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17 September, 2001The South African metalworkers' union calls the outcome of the dispute an unqualified success.
SOUTH AFRICA: Declaring the four-week strike in the tire and rubber industry a "resounding victory," the IMF-affiliated National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa reports that some 6,000 workers are returning to their jobs as of today, September 18.
The industry-wide settlement provides workers with:
- a 3-year wage agreement;
- a guaranteed 8 per cent wage increase across the board this year;
- in the second and third year, the consumer price index plus 1 per cent;
- the benchmark against which all wages are set increased to R36.15 (US$4.18);
- 10 per cent spreads within grades and 10 per cent differentials between grades.
Numsa says it is very pleased that "workers were focused and not confused by the employers' tactic to demotivate some of the legitimate union demands... We always maintained that workers are not a cost to the industry but add value to the economy... The strike could have long ended if the talks were based on fairness, transparency and proper vision."
The industry-wide settlement provides workers with:
- a 3-year wage agreement;
- a guaranteed 8 per cent wage increase across the board this year;
- in the second and third year, the consumer price index plus 1 per cent;
- the benchmark against which all wages are set increased to R36.15 (US$4.18);
- 10 per cent spreads within grades and 10 per cent differentials between grades.
Numsa says it is very pleased that "workers were focused and not confused by the employers' tactic to demotivate some of the legitimate union demands... We always maintained that workers are not a cost to the industry but add value to the economy... The strike could have long ended if the talks were based on fairness, transparency and proper vision."