6 July, 2011Unions representing 170 000 members started a nationwide strike in the engineering sector on Monday, July 4 after wage negotiations with the steel and engineering employers broke down. Rallies were carried out in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
SOUTH AFRICA: Wage negotiations between the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) broke down when employers refused to increase their offer of a wage increase of 7 per cent and to consider a ban on labour brokers in companies with Numsa members employed.
The South African trade union centre Cosatu - Congress of South African Trade Unions - supports Numsa's key demand of a ban on labour brokers. The national centre estimates that over a third of South Africa's labour force is employed on contract, with a great number getting their jobs through employment agencies and labour brokerages.
The Numsa strike started on Monday, July 4 after the Labour Court dismissed an application for an interdict to stop the strike, brought by the Plastic Converters' Association.
SEIFSA has responded to the strike action by giving notice to initiate lockouts at various firms. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said seven per cent does not constitute a real wage increase for workers. Numsa is calling for an across-the-board 13 per cent wage increase for all workers from July 1 for two years, and better general working conditions.
IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina addressed the striking workers on Monday, saying their demands were reasonable and necessary. "South African metalworkers made sacrifices during the global crisis. Now it is payback time. The IMF fully supports Numsa's demands for a living wage and decent work instead of precarious jobs."
NUMSA also demands a two-year wage agreement, as opposed to three years, offered by employers, a one-day medical test for all workers, five days family leave, and a 20 per cent night shift allowance.
Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi said, "If you believe that this strike is going to last only three or four days, you are making a big, big mistake. 13 per cent is within the employer's affordability."
The employers want continued rights to outsource work via labour brokers, new, extremely low entry level salaries, a working week of 45 instead of 40 hours, and rules exemptions for companies with fewer than 50 employees.
The South African trade union centre Cosatu - Congress of South African Trade Unions - supports Numsa's key demand of a ban on labour brokers. The national centre estimates that over a third of South Africa's labour force is employed on contract, with a great number getting their jobs through employment agencies and labour brokerages.
The Numsa strike started on Monday, July 4 after the Labour Court dismissed an application for an interdict to stop the strike, brought by the Plastic Converters' Association.
SEIFSA has responded to the strike action by giving notice to initiate lockouts at various firms. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said seven per cent does not constitute a real wage increase for workers. Numsa is calling for an across-the-board 13 per cent wage increase for all workers from July 1 for two years, and better general working conditions.
IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina addressed the striking workers on Monday, saying their demands were reasonable and necessary. "South African metalworkers made sacrifices during the global crisis. Now it is payback time. The IMF fully supports Numsa's demands for a living wage and decent work instead of precarious jobs."
NUMSA also demands a two-year wage agreement, as opposed to three years, offered by employers, a one-day medical test for all workers, five days family leave, and a 20 per cent night shift allowance.
Cosatu Secretary General Zwelinzima Vavi said, "If you believe that this strike is going to last only three or four days, you are making a big, big mistake. 13 per cent is within the employer's affordability."
The employers want continued rights to outsource work via labour brokers, new, extremely low entry level salaries, a working week of 45 instead of 40 hours, and rules exemptions for companies with fewer than 50 employees.