Numsa considers new offer to end engineering strike
South Africa's biggest metalworkers union said on Friday its members were considering a new proposal to end a strike in the engineering sector, now in it's fourth day.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), with around 155 000 members organised in the sector, have been on strike to press for higher wages, an action that could hit supplies of parts to make new cars and accessories.
"If our members are satisfied with it, we may be able to settle the strike. In the meantime the strike will continue," Numsa said in a statement.
The strike was launched after wage talks hit deadlock and arbitration failed, with Numsa demanding an 8% across-the-board wage rise in the first year, and inflation plus 2% for the second and third years.
Industry body Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) had offered 4.4% for 2021, inflation plus 0.5% in 2022 and inflation plus 1% in the third year.
Lucio Trentini, chief executive at Seifsa which represents more than 1,000 large and small firms, said they met with Numsa officials earlier this week where a "framework proposal" was agreed.
He told Reuters on Friday the proposal covered four pillars - wages, their duration, extension beyond those directly involved in negotiations and a special dispensation that would assist in achieving the third pillar. Trentini did not provide details, saying it was confidential.
"If both sides can agree that that is the best way to move forward, neither side will stand in the way of bringing the strike and lockout that is currently in play to an end," Trentini said.
He added that Seifsa hoped to receive feedback over the weekend, maybe as late as Monday or Tuesday next week.
Comments
The
functionality
you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.
If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.
For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation