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Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Monday said more than 600 workers had downed tools at Exxaro Sands in KwaZulu-Natal.
Exxaro runs the Hillendale Mine and a smelter in Empangeni.
NUM said workers at the two operations demand a 14% increase in their wages while Exxaro is offering 8% inclusive of all demands.
The union also said said that 1 700 workers planned to strike over wages at Rio Tinto's Richards Bay Minerals unit.
Workers further demand the phasing out of Grade 8 in order to address the problem of lowest paid workers and that the company should correct all wage discrepancies.
"We further demand that the company should ban the usage of labour brokers and offer a housing allowance of R2 000 a month," said Bhekani Ngcobo, the NUM's regional coordinator in Kwazulu-Natal.
"Our strike is indefinite," said Ngcobo.
In a separate announcement, the trade union said more than 1 700 workers may go on strike at Rio Tinto's Richards Bay mineral sands operations later this week.
The NUM said workers were awarded a certificate of non-resolution to the dispute by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) after the company failed to concede to their demands.
Workers want the company to offer a 10% increment on a one-year deal while the company insists on 8% and a three-year deal.
The company said it would give workers 8% in the first year and then CPI plus 1.5% in the second and third years.
NUM further demands that the company should increase its housing allowance from R3 200 to R4 000 a month for grade 6 to 10 workers while the housing allowance for grade 11 to 13 workers should be increased to R6 000 a month from R5 500.
"The union will serve a 48 hour notice to strike tomorrow if the company fails to accede to the demands by close of business today," the NUM said.
Exxaro runs the Hillendale Mine and a smelter in Empangeni.
NUM said workers at the two operations demand a 14% increase in their wages while Exxaro is offering 8% inclusive of all demands.
The union also said said that 1 700 workers planned to strike over wages at Rio Tinto's Richards Bay Minerals unit.
Workers further demand the phasing out of Grade 8 in order to address the problem of lowest paid workers and that the company should correct all wage discrepancies.
"We further demand that the company should ban the usage of labour brokers and offer a housing allowance of R2 000 a month," said Bhekani Ngcobo, the NUM's regional coordinator in Kwazulu-Natal.
"Our strike is indefinite," said Ngcobo.
In a separate announcement, the trade union said more than 1 700 workers may go on strike at Rio Tinto's Richards Bay mineral sands operations later this week.
The NUM said workers were awarded a certificate of non-resolution to the dispute by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) after the company failed to concede to their demands.
Workers want the company to offer a 10% increment on a one-year deal while the company insists on 8% and a three-year deal.
The company said it would give workers 8% in the first year and then CPI plus 1.5% in the second and third years.
NUM further demands that the company should increase its housing allowance from R3 200 to R4 000 a month for grade 6 to 10 workers while the housing allowance for grade 11 to 13 workers should be increased to R6 000 a month from R5 500.
"The union will serve a 48 hour notice to strike tomorrow if the company fails to accede to the demands by close of business today," the NUM said.
