Close to 3 000 members of Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa are on an indefinite strike at steel producer Highveld Steel’s Witbank plant.
Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said the unions are standing firm on their wage demand of an 8% increase. Highveld Steel is offering employees a 5,5% wage increase.
“I think the company’s production will be heavily affected by the strike. We are on an indefinite strike until the company agrees to meet our wage demand,” Kleynhans added.
Among the union’s demands is an improvement to the housing allowance of its members.
Highveld Steel CEO Andre Denysschen said the company has shut down the plant as a safety precaution.
Asked how much Highveld Steel is losing in terms of production, Denysschen said: “I am not in a position to say how much production we are losing due to the strike action. We are currently assessing the situation.” — I-Net Bridge