Numsa issues warning of ‘costly’ strike in EL

THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) warned yesterday that a costly strike that may bring the East London automobile industry to its knees was on the cards.

The union warned they would launch a secondary strike if the pay dispute with D B Schenker – one of the largest suppliers of car parts for Mercedes-Benz South Africa – continued unresolved.

The union said the fullblown strike would include Numsa members at MBSA.

Numsa chairman Mxolisi Bangani said other large suppliers of car parts for MBSA such as R G Brose and In Sync were also expected to join the planned strike.

“Our employer’s hardened attitude remains unchanged so we are already asking for support from other members within the automobile industry, which will bring this industry to a standstill.”

Bangani said they would write to other union shop stewards from other firms this week asking for their members to join the planned secondary strike.

“Our organiser, Nontsikelelo Kolisi, has started liaising with all her counterparts in other factories.”

The union fired the warning shot yesterday as the strike by 70 Numsa-aligned D B Schenker workers entered its third day.

The workers embarked on the strike over a wage dispute after negotiations between the two parties deadlocked.

Since June they have been demanding an hourly fee increase of R25 an hour from the R35 an hour they are paid at present.

Some of their demands include medical aid.

The manager at D B Schenker, Lawrence Boucher, referred queries to their labour broker Phakisa, saying he was not the “right person” to speak to the media about the matter.

However, Boucher revealed he was concerned that a protected strike would cripple the running of the business.

Phakisa group CEO Msuthu Matshani said the workers were not going to see another increase in one year and that they had been given a raise last year.

After that his phone went unanswered. — malibongwed@dispatch.