The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Wednesday said it was duty bound to consult workers in the steel and engineering sectors on the latest proposals made by the Steel, Engineering Industry Federation of South Africa (Seifsa).
The two parties met today in last chance in-depth talks to avert a strike in the metal industry.
Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said talks were tense, complex and at some stage promised to provide a way forward for the industry.
“The employer federation responded extensively to many issues submitted by the union which relates to changing parameters on wages, guaranteed leave bonus, HIV/Aids drugs, limiting the duration of the labour brokers and family responsibility leave and the establishment of the entitlement fund,” Ntuli said.
He added that the talks were practical, positive and constructive.
“We managed to address specific issues and put aside assumptions and constraints that limited the way forward. From our experience, we think that generally the dialogue was important in limiting risk and deliberating on the shortsightedness of not improving the wages and general working conditions in the industry.”
Ntuli said the National Executive Committee meeting has been scheduled to take place on Friday for a final decision.
The union has warned that if an amicable agreement was not reached, the union would be obliged to issue 48-hour’s notice for workers to resume industrial action.
Close to 230 000 workers are poised to go on an indefinite strike action in the metal industry. The wage talks cover 400 000 workers in the steel and engineering industry.
Ntuli added that in line with the bargaining strategy of the union the primary objective has been achieved in forcing employers to address other non- wage demands.
“We think that this is new departure enhances collective bargaining by stretching employers’ abilities to accede to other non-wage issues. The duty of the union is to come up with preventative measures that would protect workers from the vulnerability of the industry.”
Numsa is demanding that the wages be increased by the consumer price index (CPIX) plus 3% improvement factor and a 15% afternoon shift allowance and 20% respectively for the evening shift.
The union is also demanding four weeks severance pay for each year of service and that employers should establish both an Entitlement Fund and contribute R100 per hour per worker. – I-Net Bridge