As announced last week, South African coal mining workers association Solidarity has started strike. Solidarity said that most of its 3,500 members in the coal sector were taking part in a strike. Mr Reint Dykema spokesman Solidarity said that workers at two of the biggest local coal companies did not report for duty. The strike kicked off at Sunday midnight at mines belonging to Anglo Coal, Xstrata, Optimum Colliery and Exxaro.

Mr Dykema said that so far miners at Exxaro and Anglo Coal operations had heeded the call to strike. He said "Especially at Matla, all the people are standing in front of the gate. We are positive lots have heeded the strike. It seems the turn out is good on Exxaro mines and at Anglo Coal. Most of our members are taking part." He said around 500 Solidarity members worked at Matla as compared with about 3,500 in total expected to take part in the strike. He had no overall estimate of how many were participating in the action.

While Solidarity represents about 3,500 of the 55,000 workers in the industry, its members are the electricians, boilermakers and riggers that keep the mines running. Mr Dykema said "It's a small amount, but it's the backbone of the operations.” Solidarity represents skilled artisans and some industry players say the stay away could dent output in the major coal-producing nation, although the much larger National Union of Mineworkers has signaled it may not join the strike.

Pay talks between the two sides broke down earlier this month after several weeks of negotiations. Employers had offered increases of 7.5% and 8% for higher category workers and 10% for those in lower categories. Solidarity had demanded 15% but Mr Dykema said it would accept a hike of 10% across the board.