PRODUCTION at South Africa’s second largest steel producer, Highveld Steel and Vanadium, in Witbank is expected to return to normal on Wednesday after a strike ended on Tuesday. This follows the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the MWU-Solidarity accepting the company’s revised wage offer of an effective 9,46%. Numsa accepted the offer on Tuesday after consulting its members and MWU-Solidarity accepted the increase on Monday night. Numsa and MWU-Solidarity, which make up the vast majority of Highveld’s workers, downed tools last Tuesday after a dispute over wages and related conditions of employment. The unions have also accepted an 18% increase in the housing allowance for lower-scale workers and five percent for the highest. It has also been agreed that a forum would be established to discuss the company’s performance. The forum would meet four times a year and would comprise members of MWU-Solidarity, Numsa and Highveld. The offer will be backdated to July 1. – Sapa