Read this article in:
4 July, 2011
As with CEPPWAWU, the National Union of Metalworkers' of South Africa (NUMSA) has today begun strike action following a failure of negotiations with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA). NUMSA has lowered its demand for a 20 per cent salary increase, to 13 per cent, however SEIFSA only offered 7 per cent, and refused to seriously negotiate the other key NUMSA demand for labour brokers to be banned in all companies with NUMSA members employed.
Further NUMSA demands include a two-year wage agreement, as opposed to three years sought by employers, a one-day medical test for all workers, a five-day family responsibility leave per occurrence, and a 20 per cent night shift allowance.
Talks between NUMSA and the Metal and Engineering Industry Sectors Bargaining Council ended on Thursday with a certificate of non-resolution being issued, paving the way for a strike.
The indefinite mass countrywide action is likely to include upwards of 300,000 workers. David Carson, executive director of SEIFSA, responded to impending strike action on Thursday, declaring 48 hours’ notice before initiating lockouts at various firms.
Strikers convened at the Workers’ Library in Johannesburg from 9am today. Led by NUMSA General Secretary Irwin Jim and the general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Zwelinzima Vavi, workers marched to submit a memorandum at Metal Industries House on Anderson Street in Johannesburg.
Demonstrations also took place in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and East London. A march in Northern Cape will take place tomorrow.
Employer’s regressive demands in the failed negotiations included protecting their right to outsource work via labour brokers, introducing incredibly low entry level salaries, increasing the working week from 40 hours to 45, and exempting companies with fewer than 50 employees from many of their responsibilities towards workers.