Numsa insists on 15% across the board raise

THE NATIONAL Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has said it would demand a 15 percent wage increase across the board as wage talks in the metal and engineering sector begun yesterday. The metal sector wage talks are brought about as the current wage agreement lapses at the end of this month. In 2014, Numsa went on strike after a talks for a living wage and improved working conditions in the metal sector reached deadlock with employers. Numsa general secretary, Irvin Jim, said that the union was calling on all employers to negotiate in good faith and with the aim of reaching a settlement which will satisfy everyone this year, especially its members. “Numsa has been mandated by more than 129 000 workers in the sector to negotiate better wages and working conditions for our members and their families,” Jim said. “We have three simple demands. We demand a 15 percent wage increase across the board based on the actual rate that workers are earning, and not on the minimum rate. We demand an extension of the current agreement for two years. In this period all outstanding issues must be finalised.” Numsa would also demand the extension of the agreement to non-parties, like the National Employers Association of South Africa and the Plastics Converters Association of South Africa. – ANA