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14 August, 2001IMF urges solidarity with its South African affiliate.
SOUTH AFRICA: The auto strike organised by the IMF-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, which began on August 6, has now entered its second week (see August 6 IMF website news item or NewsBriefs No. 27). Despite endless negotiations, the companies involved -- BMW, Nissan, Toyota, Delta/General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen -- are still sticking to their offer of a 7.5 per cent wage hike, against the union's proposal of 12 per cent.
Background to Numsa demand
The union says its demand for increased wages and decent working conditions is against the background of an industry which is presently doing quite well in South Africa. Output in the motor vehicle, parts and accessories industry has risen by 13 per cent, labour productivity is up 14.3 per cent, unit labour costs fell by 11.8 per cent and exports increased by over 38 per cent.
The Numsa claim would bring the minimum monthly wage to approximately R3,658 (US$440) and is modest in that most workers in the auto industry cannot afford decent health care, housing and education for their children, plus they are supporting their extended families who are bearing the brunt of the present unemployment in South Africa. The majority of the workers in the industry are living in shacks and the wages can only cover basic amenities, while auto executives have paid themselves what they call international wages, ranging from a yearly R6 million (US$725,270) to R10 million (US$1.2 million).
Numsa says that the refusal of the auto employers to grant a decent wage is a perpetuation of the apartheid culture of over-reliance on low wages and failure to invest in human development, which has caused enormous social problems in South Africa.
How we can all help
The IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, is calling on all IMF affiliates to support our South African colleagues by acting on the following Numsa proposals:
1) Trade unions organised in the above-mentioned companies can approach management of their companies and raise their disapproval over the intransigence of the employers to settle the strike.
2) Affiliates, workers and union officials can send protest messages using the e-mail or fax of the company executives mentioned below.
3) Solidarity messages can be sent to Numsa's head office by e-mail to: [email protected] or by fax: (27/11) 833-6330.
The e-mail messages referred to under (2) should be sent to the following:
1. Volkswagen South Africa
- Mr. Maergner, Chief Executive Officer: [email protected]
- Mr. B. Smith, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/41) 994-5506, 994-5464
2. Ford Motor Company South Africa
- Mr. M. Oliveira, Chief Executive Officer: [email protected]
- Mr. D. Seiler, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
- Mr. L. Bird, Deputy Managing Director: [email protected]
- Mr. T. Kok, Plant Production Director: [email protected]
- Mr. C. Shearer, Port Elizabeth Engine Plant Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 842-3141
3. Nissan South Africa
- Mr. S. Sadao, Managing Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 529-6839
4. BMW
- Mr. Ian Robertson, Chief Executive: [email protected]
- Mr. Anthony Harfield, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 541-2813
5. Delta/General Motors
- Mr. W. Van Wyk, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/41) 403-2927
6. DaimlerChrysler
- Mr. G. Butschek, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/43) 706-2801
7. Toyota
- Mr. H. Gazendam, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/11) 444-8253
Background to Numsa demand
The union says its demand for increased wages and decent working conditions is against the background of an industry which is presently doing quite well in South Africa. Output in the motor vehicle, parts and accessories industry has risen by 13 per cent, labour productivity is up 14.3 per cent, unit labour costs fell by 11.8 per cent and exports increased by over 38 per cent.
The Numsa claim would bring the minimum monthly wage to approximately R3,658 (US$440) and is modest in that most workers in the auto industry cannot afford decent health care, housing and education for their children, plus they are supporting their extended families who are bearing the brunt of the present unemployment in South Africa. The majority of the workers in the industry are living in shacks and the wages can only cover basic amenities, while auto executives have paid themselves what they call international wages, ranging from a yearly R6 million (US$725,270) to R10 million (US$1.2 million).
Numsa says that the refusal of the auto employers to grant a decent wage is a perpetuation of the apartheid culture of over-reliance on low wages and failure to invest in human development, which has caused enormous social problems in South Africa.
How we can all help
The IMF general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, is calling on all IMF affiliates to support our South African colleagues by acting on the following Numsa proposals:
1) Trade unions organised in the above-mentioned companies can approach management of their companies and raise their disapproval over the intransigence of the employers to settle the strike.
2) Affiliates, workers and union officials can send protest messages using the e-mail or fax of the company executives mentioned below.
3) Solidarity messages can be sent to Numsa's head office by e-mail to: [email protected] or by fax: (27/11) 833-6330.
The e-mail messages referred to under (2) should be sent to the following:
1. Volkswagen South Africa
- Mr. Maergner, Chief Executive Officer: [email protected]
- Mr. B. Smith, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/41) 994-5506, 994-5464
2. Ford Motor Company South Africa
- Mr. M. Oliveira, Chief Executive Officer: [email protected]
- Mr. D. Seiler, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
- Mr. L. Bird, Deputy Managing Director: [email protected]
- Mr. T. Kok, Plant Production Director: [email protected]
- Mr. C. Shearer, Port Elizabeth Engine Plant Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 842-3141
3. Nissan South Africa
- Mr. S. Sadao, Managing Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 529-6839
4. BMW
- Mr. Ian Robertson, Chief Executive: [email protected]
- Mr. Anthony Harfield, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/12) 541-2813
5. Delta/General Motors
- Mr. W. Van Wyk, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/41) 403-2927
6. DaimlerChrysler
- Mr. G. Butschek, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/43) 706-2801
7. Toyota
- Mr. H. Gazendam, Human Resources Director: [email protected]
Fax: (27/11) 444-8253