National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Frans Baleni says its members are "not trigger-happy" about launching a threatened gold industry strike, hinting a compromise could still be found with producers before a Friday deadline.
On Saturday, NUM gave bullion producers including AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold a seven-day ultimatum to meet its demand for pay rises of up to 60% or face strike action.
However, Baleni says a strike “is always the last resort”.
A source at the South African Chamber of Mines said some compromises had been mooted by the NUM, but no revisions had been tabled. Reuters