Numsa, employers threaten legal action

THE Metal and engineering sector’s turmoil is far from over, with both labour and some employers threatening legal action over wage increases.

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) also announced yesterday that its members would not be returning to work at companies affiliated to the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa). This follows Neasa’s threat to lock out employees returning to work yesterday because Numsa had not agreed to its demands.

Numsa members in the sector have been on strike for nearly a month.

The strike seemed to end this week, but Neasa’s threat put a spanner in the works. It could also be the catalyst for a longer and bitter conflict, with both sides threatening court action. The strike has been costing the economy R300 million a day.

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA agreed to give the lowest-paid workers a 10 percent raise for each of the next three years. Neasa says it can only pay 8 percent.

Yesterday, Numsa said it was consulting lawyers regarding Neasa’s threat to lock out workers.

Neasa says the companies it represents simply cannot afford anything more than an 8 percent increase, but Numsa has ruled out any concessions.

Union general secretary Irvin Jim said: “It’s deliberate anarchy aimed at collapsing collective bargaining.”Neasa spokesman Jaco Swart said yesterday any attempt to extend the wage agreement to its members would be challenged, presumably in the Labour Court.