NUM said a strike at Impala Platinum was likely to spread to the company’s metal refinery and workers were prepared to stay away for weeks or months.
A strike at Impala Platinum has spread to another mine and hit output, the company said on Friday.
Impala Platinum said on Thursday it could sack thousands of striking workers, escalating a wage dispute.
SA’s biggest union said a strike at Impala Platinum’s biggest mine may spread to the entire company after wage talks broke down on Wednesday.
Impala Platinum said on Tuesday a strike by workers had halted its largest operation in South Africa.
Impala Platinum said on Monday its operations were running normally a day after the National Union of Mineworkers said it had suspended a strike.
The National Union of Mineworkers said on Sunday it had suspended an indefinite strike set to start on Monday at Impala Platinum.
President Jacob Zuma took a tough line on unions on Tuesday, saying there was no ”pandering” to labour after the threat of a strike appeared to fade.
Eskom voiced hope ahead of talks on Friday of averting a strike that could paralyse Africa’s biggest economy.
South Africa has put together a list of proposed black candidates for a new chairperson of Anglo American, including Cyril Ramaphosa.