 And from other parts of Africa, scores of striking workers picketed outside Akhidot metal's plant, about 100 kilometers south of Janesburg over their wages. Protesters chanted songs, burned tires, and blocked roads with cement, as police kept a close watch. The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa, NUMSA, began a strike at South Africa's biggest steel company on Wednesday, May 11, after wage negotiations broke down last week. The union wants a 10% pay increase, a housing allowance, and a payment of 80% of medical insurance costs against the company's final offer of a 7% wage increase. The union members and the union in general, we are talking to the company for salary increase. So then the company want to give us a 5% plus 2% salary increase. We as the union members and the union in general, we want to get 10% salary increase. So then that's why we are standing outside saying we need that percentage because each and everything is increasing, petrol is increasing, fish oil, food, and everything is increasing. So then the company doesn't want to give us that percentage. So we will fight till we get that 10% salary increase. To hit the notification button so you get notified about fresh news updates.