Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) -- African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. (ARI) workers at the company’s Nkomati nickel mine started a strike over wages and shift allowances today, National Union of Mineworkers spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said.

The union expected “total closure” of the mine, Seshoka said by mobile phone today. The company is offering an increase of 4 percent on shift allowances while the union is demanding a 7 percent raise.