SIYABONGA SITHOLE
Johannesburg: The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) says it is finalising its picketing rules ahead of the impending strikes in the motor sector following deadlocks in negotiations between the unions and the motor industry.
Last month Numsa, which represents at least 90 000 of the more than 300 000 workers in the sector, said the impending strike comes after failed negotiations, with employers saying they are only prepared to offer 4% increase across the board after the unions and the workers had demanded at least 12% across the board on top of night shift allowances.
On Thursday, the union in a statement said it has met with the employers in the motor sector including Retail Motor Industries (RMI) and the Fuel Retail Association (FRA) under the auspices of the Motor Industries Bargaining Council (MICO).
According to the union, the meeting took place from September 12 to 13 following previous meetings and engagements last month. Both these engagements have failed to yield the desired 12% increase in wages.
As a result, Numsa said the strike could not be avoided as the employers had not made any new offers, adding that workers were struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living.
Numsa said employers under FRA were only prepared to offer 4% increase across the board for the duration of a three-year agreement.
“Our members in the motor sector are struggling because of the extreme high cost of living. Numsa represents some of the lowest-paid workers who are garage workers and earn R21 per hour, and the proposal made by the employer is simply not good enough. FRA is offering 4%across the board. What is 4% increase for garage workers earning R21 per hour? This is not a living wage. We are fighting so that workers earn decent wages and can live a decent life,” Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said.
The demand by Numsa and other union is 12% across the board on top of night shift allowances for some of the workers who knock off late and being work in the early hours of the morning.
"That is why we are demanding 12% increase across the board and night shift allowances for garage workers because because there is no safe and reliable public transportation when they knock off late at night, or when they start their shifts early in the morning. The demands made by our members are about survival because they are struggling to survive and get through the day on such low wages, "Jim added.
The union said it expected to receive a certificate granting it the right to strike on September 20, with the commissioner also expected to finalise picketing rules.
"Our members are anxious because they were expecting their increases to come into effect at the beginning of September. Unfortunately that was not the case. The employers do not want to make a meaningful offer and this is why we are deadlocked," Jim said.
Petrol attendants, component manufacturers and car dealers are some of the sectors that will be adversely affected by the impending strike.
The Star