The trade union Solidarity on Wednesday threatened ”the biggest strike this year” should its members in the metal and engineering industry reject their employers’ final offer of a 4,8% to 5,8% pay rise.
”This decision by Solidarity comes after the employers’ organisations in the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council did not bring a new offer to the negotiating table today,” a Solidarity statement read.
”If we call a strike it may be the biggest strike in the country,” said Johan Pieterse, general secretary for the Metal and Engineering Industry in Solidarity.
”The industry has 310 000 members, which means that a strike will be the biggest in South Africa this year,” read the statement.
Pieterse added: ”Our first choice remains a settlement, but it seems that employers are bent on forcing a strike. Our call to the employers is rather to use moves to improve the wage offer to avoid a strike than to cause one.”
Pieterse said the union would discuss the offer with its members next week. – Sapa