Auto parts workers to continue with strike

WORKERS in the automotive parts sector have rejected the latest wage offer from employers aimed at ending a strike that has brought motor-manufacturing assembly lines to a near standstill in South Africa.

Jakkie Olivier, chief executive of the Retail Motor Industry, said late yesterday management had offered to raise salaries by 10% in the first year and 8% in the following two years.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), SA’s main manufacturing union, wants double-digit wage hikes and better shift allowances. General-secretary Irvin Jim said the union was open to more talks with the employers.

The discussions were at a “critical, critical stage”, he said.

Despite the sound and fury that has accompanied this year’s wage talks‚ settlements – even some made after strikes – have been in line with general trends of the past few years of about 2% above inflation.

Following labour unrest last year‚ which saw wildcat strikes sweeping the mining and agricultural sectors‚ there had been fears that workers’ expectations had been unrealistically raised and unions would drive a hard bargain.

The outliers among settlements are the retail fuel sector‚ where after a three-week strike‚ Numsa secured an 11.6% increase and the vehicle manufacturers‚ who settled for 11.5%. These were significantly higher than the offer prior to striking of 7.5%.

Numsa is also bucking the trend with the most protracted strike so far‚ in the vehicle components sector, where workers are into the fourth week of holding out for a demand of about 10%.

The gold sector was most notable for reaching an amicable settlement of 8% after a strike of only three days. However‚ most workers gained only an extra 1.5% from the strike as the offer from employers at deadlock was 5.5%‚ to which a 1% gain would have been added.

In the coal sector‚ which was settled without a strike‚ settlements were mainly in the 8% range. – Reuters and BDlive