With around 155 000 members organised in the sector, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA has called for a total shutdown of the engineering industry after wage talks with employer bodies deadlocked.“We are left with no choice but to strike and to withhold our labour indefinitely until the bosses give into our just demands,” Numsa said.
Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa came out in numbers to march against the 4% salary increase proposed by the employer. The march began at the Mary Fitzgerald square in Newtown and ended up at the Metal Industries House in the CBD where a memorandum was handed over. Photo: Tebogo Letsie
Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa came out in numbers to march against the 4% salary increase proposed by the employer. The march began at the Mary Fitzgerald square in Newtown and ended up at the Metal Industries House in the CBD where a memorandum was handed over. Photo: Tebogo Letsie
Lucio Trentini, CEO of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA which represents more than 1 000 firms, from small family-owned businesses with less than 20 employees to large listed companies, said a poll among members on Tuesday showed a worker absenteeism rate of around 26%. The country’s economy, including its export-focused auto sector, was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, making employers reluctant to give in to union demands for above inflation salary hikes.
Super spreader event.