South Africa approaches a national steel strike: A national strike is looming in the steel industry as the six trade unions and the Steel and Engineering Federation of SA (Seifsa) failed to break a two-week-old wage deadlock on Tuesday. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is demanding increases of between 10 and 12 percent, while Seifsa is offering 5.7 percent to 6.7 percent for skilled and unskilled workers respectively. According to the agreement reached between the two parties last year, had inflation remained above five percent, increases would have been inflation plus one percent. However, CPIX (consumer price inflation minus mortgages) came in at 4.4 percent leading trade unions to reopen wage negotiations. Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli warned that the union was on a 'collision course' with Seifsa and a 'massive national strike is inevitable'. 'They have not improved the wage demand. We are marching forward for an ultimate strike action,' Ntuli said in a statement."