The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Monday declared “war” against the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation after wage negotiations over the weekend hit a snag once again.
The employer organisation is sticking to its guns and has refused to change its wage offer of 6,5% across the board. The union has since revised its wage demand to 9% across the board.
The union is expected to meet with the CEOs next week in a last ditch effort to break the stalemate.
The employer organisation was initially offering a 4,4% wage increase across the board while the union was demanding 8% for the lowest-grade workers and 5% for workers earning above the maximum rates.
The wage negotiations between the two parties are to determine the increases for all production workers this year.
“We are bracing for massive strike action in the car industry. The more the role, status, contribution of workers is disputed and undermined by employers the more the strike becomes closer. The strike action is imminent,” Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said.
Ntuli stated that the union is not happy with the current 6,5% wage offer because it is not comprehensive and workable.
“We must now push employers to give workers 9%. Employers have not taken note of the impact the strike will have on their export deals. In this regard, we remain unapologetic and unafraid to strike to increase the wages of workers,” he added.
Numsa is also demanding a three-year wage agreement, that training should take place during working hours as well as 100% payment of maternity leave. — I-Net Bridge