South African energy industry workers, including oil workers on refineries run by companies including Chevron Corp, Royal Dutch Shell and Sasol Ltd have joined workers in the metal industry in a strike to demand higher pay. Gold miners have also threatened to walk out over pay concerns.

All told, around 70,000 oil workers walked after employers failed to heed their demands for wage increases of 11 percent to 13 percent and for the use of contract workers to be terminated. Instead employers offered 4-7% instead.

Employers argue that rising wage settlements could also push up prices for metal products and oil products, with many oil companies now claiming that it may be difficult to meet customer demands of the strikes are carried out.

The round of strikes was kicked off by members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, who went on strike on July 4th in an attempt to gain a 13% wage increase. A settlement may now be close according to industry bodies.