Around 50,000 workers at South African ports, rail and pipeline operations could go on strike if an agreement over wages with logistics group Transnet is not made, claims a transport union.

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union said Transnet offered to raise wages by 8%, against the union’s demand of 15%.

Transnet spokesman John Dludlu said the company has tabled a final offer, with a response expected by 4 May.

The union’s demands include no redundancies in 2010 financial year and permanent employment to all fixed-term contract workers.