Trade unions on Thursday walked out of the first round of talks on conditions of service in the metal industry.
Employers apparently refused to entertain the unions’ suggestions, said Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa).
”If they persist in their refusal to negotiate about conditions of service, we will embark on the process of declaring a dispute and this may end in a strike,” said Solidarity general secretary for the metal and engineering industry, Johan Pieterse.
The principal aim of this year’s talks was an 11% wage increase for all workers in the industry. In addition, trade unions wanted workers to be given a 5% scarce skills allowance.
Numsa said the lawyer for the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa ”utterly rejected” improvements on conditions of employment.
According to Numsa spokesperson Mziwakhe Hlangani the lawyer said the proposal would escalate the employment conditions to ”increasingly unaffordable and uncompetitive levels”.
Other union demands included the establishment of a medical fund for the industry, an increase in the shift allowance, improved travel allowances for shift workers, an adjustment in the inconvenience allowance and a total embargo on the importation of skills that are available in South Africa.
Other unions involved are the United Association of South Africa; the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union; the Metal and Electrical Workers’ Union; and the South African Equity Workers’ Association.
The two-year agreement was set to lapse on July 1 this year. – Sapa