Numsa has strongly rejected Ameo’s offer of an across the board seven per cent wage increase on the eve of the final round of negotiations.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has threatened a nationwide strike in the motor industry if tomorrow’s final round of wage negotiations with the Automobile Manufacturers Employers’ Organisation (Ameo) do not conclude to their satisfaction.
Numsa wants a 15 per cent wage increase (which includes inflation and improvement factor), two-year agreements on wages, that temporary workers must become permanent, a ratio of four apprentices to one artisan and the merger of the motor and tyre sectors into one statutory council.
“We have put seven per cent on the table as our wage offer and we are looking to another fruitful negotiation session on Wednesday. Nobody, neither Numsa nor management, will benefit from a strike action as proposed by the union,” said Ameo spokesman Harry Gazendam.
“The employer organisation has tabled a miserable 6,5 per cent on wages across the board and insisted on a five-year wage agreement. The employers’ wage offer is creating huge problems for workers and their families because it will not buy goods and services.
“Productivity has increased substantially by 3,5 per cent in the industry, but increased income from these profits has not gone to the workers,” Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli responded.
However, Gazendam disputed Ntuli’s claim that Ameo had acted in “aberration of the Labour Relations Act by refusing to negotiate in a fair manner”, saying that the spirit of negotiations has been “very good”.
“The response of the employers has not been dignified and rational. This stubborn attitude on the part of the employers will aggravate the already sour relationship,” Ntuli added.
The two will meet on a three-day wage negotiations session.
