WAGE talks between trade union Solidarity and Denel subsidiary Denel Aviation have started on a "deadlock" note.

WAGE talks between trade union Solidarity and Denel subsidiary Denel Aviation have started on a "deadlock" note.

Speaking after the bargaining meeting yesterday, Solidarity spokesperson Ilze Nieuwoudt said her union started the wage talks with a 9percent cost-to-company and across-the-board wage demand while Denel offered 4,5percent.

She said if the company remained steadfast, her union would stop further negotiations, resulting in a deadlock.

The increase is for implementation as of April 1 .

Wage talks are also under way at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation's subsidiary - Nuclear Technology Products - and have kicked off on a "high note" according to Solidarity.

The company made a final wage offer of 7percent last week which the union was "in favour" of, provided a proposed decrease in the number of leave days was dropped.

Stanlib economist Kevin Lings said differences in wage offers by companies was based on performance of their sectors and the strain during the economic recession.

He said it would be comforting to workers to see illustrations that jobs were saved even though no wage increases were offered. Negotiations at other Denel entities are set to start in the next two weeks, starting with Denel Saab Aerostructures on March 18.

Solidarity is also handling wage negotiations on behalf of nurses at the Jakaranda, Bougainville and Moot hospitals in Tshwane, for the categories of administrative staff where it represents more than 250 workers at bargaining level.