South African transport workers' unions on strike at logistics group Transnet said on Thursday a mediator would on Friday try to help resolve a pay dispute that has crippled national rail and port operations, according to Reuters. The four-day strike at Transnet widened on Wednesday after a second union joined the stoppage, the latest public protest ahead of next month's soccer World Cup tournament, being held in Africa's largest economy. The United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) together represent 85 percent of Transnet's workforce of 54,000 people. Utatu said it would stick to its 15 percent pay rise demand when talks reopen, above the 11 percent offered by Transnet. "We will meet (Transnet's) management and the commissioner tomorrow (Friday). This could be the start to resolving the issue," Utatu General Secretary Chris de Vos told Reuters. De Vos said Utatu and Satawu would meet the mediator on Thursday. Both unions would meet Transnet and the mediator from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Friday. Transnet said on Wednesday it was willing to discuss alternative options other than a further wage raise in order to end the strike. London-listed global miner Xstrata on Wednesday declared a force majeure, halting shipment of ferrochrome, a key ingredient in stainless steel, and chrome ore. Samancor, the world's 2nd-biggest ferrochrome producer, also declared force majeure, traders said. Transnet operates no passenger services, but a prolonged strike could affect imports, internal fuel supplies and exports of fresh fruit, grains, iron ore and coal. South Africa is one of the world's biggest coal exporters, mainly to power stations in Europe and Asia. Transnet, and commodities and fuel producers said they would be able to supply customers for days due to stocks at ports. Power utility Eskom said the strike at Transnet would have no impact on the transport of coal used to power its plants, since only small amounts of coal were carried by rail, with the bulk supplied by conveyor belts directly from mines. In a separate development, Satawu said it would go on strike on Monday at the passenger transport service Metrorail over a pay dispute -- further widening the strike in the transport sector. Satawu's General Secretary Zenzo Mahlangu also said that Utatu would join in the passenger transport strike, which could affect millions of commuters.
