South African Solidarity union said on Thursday it had declared a dispute with Kumba Iron Ore, the first legal step towards a strike, after the company made a final wage offer of 8% against the union’s demand of 12,5%.
Solidarity spokesperson Reint Dykema said in a statement the next step will be to ask the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration to appoint a facilitator in an attempt to reach a settlement.
Kumba, Africa’s top iron ore producer, is 65% owned by Anglo American.
The National Union of Mineworkers, said earlier it had rejected an improved offer of 7,5% from Kumba. The union has demanded a 13,5% wage rise, and a spokesperson has said it would review the situation in the course of the day and if a better offer was not made it may consider declaring a dispute. – Reuters