Reuters reported that South African union Solidarity has received a certificate of approval for the launch of a coal strike after workers rejected coal producers wage offer of an 8% increase. Solidarity must give employers 48 hours notice before its members can go on strike.

The union said in a statement that it sought approval to strike from labor mediators after judging an 8% wage increase offer by employers in the industry unacceptable.

Soldarity and South Africa's biggest mining union National Union of Mineworkers declared a dispute the first legal step towards going on strike against coal producers last month after wage talks hit deadlock. The move comes amid a wave of strikes in South Africa's oil refining, chemical, timber, metal, engineering and public sectors.