Johannesburg. — The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is considering a new offer from employers in the metals and engineering sectors, with hopeful signs that workers will return to companies next week after just more than a week of economically damaging strike action.
A series of facilitated talks between Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant and parties had seen the parties demonstrate an “encouraging commitment and maturity in finding a settlement”, spokesman Mokgadi Pela said yesterday.
The details of the new offer have not been made available pending a meeting of Numsa’s leadership later on Wednesday, but it is understood not to exceed 10 percent.
Numsa yesterday declined to comment on any revised wage offer. The union had made it clear it was considering the “latest offer” from employers and would decide what should constitute a settlement.
The offer is understood not to exceed a previous 10 percent offer made by the Steel Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa), but the wage negotiations have covered more than 35 separate items regarding workplace demands.
“We remain committed to resolving the current strike in the metals and engineering sector and we will continue to engage all parties concerned in order to bring the strike to an end,” Seifsa spokeswoman Ollie Madlala said in an e-mailed response to news agency Bloomberg. She declined to comment further.
Seifsa had offered a three-year wage deal of between 7 percent and 10 percent, rejected by Numsa, which continued to demand an end to labour broking and the youth wage subsidy.
The union had also demanded a R1 000 housing allowance as well as changes to the practice of placing employees on extended short time.
The strike has hit thousands of companies across a range of manufacturing concerns, affecting the 10 500 companies within the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council directly as well as having an indirect effect on businesses reliant on the affected suppliers.
The strike has further affected vehicle manufacturers, leading both General Motors South Africa and BMW to reduce production due to a shortage of components.
South African car makers were hit by a month-long strike by Numsa last year, which was estimated to have cost the industry more than R20bn in revenue through lost production of 45,000 vehicles.
Car makers have put in place contingency measures, but are expected to come under pressure if the strike exceeds two weeks.
The strike has been marked by widespread violence and intimidation, with the South African Police Service making nearly 100 arrests over the past week, including the arrest of 13 Numsa members on Tuesday.
Numsa structures met at the weekend to address the violence, resolving to deploy additional personnel to address picketing members and to serve as observers. — Bdlive/Bloomberg.