OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 3.30pm.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Friday announced that 220000 of its members in the motor industry are to start a nationwide strike on September 1 following a breakdown in wage negotiations on August 1.
The notice to strike comes just three days after 20000 workers in the vehicle manufacturing industry returned to work after Numsa and the Automobile Manufacturers’ Employers’ Organisation (Ameo) signed a wage agreement.
The union announced on Friday that strike notices have been served on employers, including Ameo and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa.
Some 60000 workers in the motor sector, including spares salesmen, car dealers and component manufacturers will strike while workers in sectors — such as engineering, tyre and automobile manufacturing — that have customer relations with motor companies will strike in solidarity with their colleagues, Numsa said. The strike is expected to affect filling stations and workshops, where petrol attendants and workshop staff will down tools.
Wage negotiation deadlocked as employers are offering a 4,5% wage increase based on minimum wages, and have rejected arbitration, while workers are demanding an inflation rate increase, from 12% to 18%, based on take-home pay.