Numsa, Denel set up task team to discuss 7% wage hike
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has met with Denel's board to discuss its demand for a 7% wage increase.
The meeting follows a picket by NUMSA members on Wednesday outside the offices of the military equipment company in Centurion.
Numsa claims workers at Denel have not had a salary increase for five years.
The union’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, said earlier this year that discussions between members and Denel led to the executive approving a 7% wage increase.
However, the board intervened and implemented a 4% increase for the 2025/26 financial year.
“Numsa members have rejected the proposal of 4% because the last time workers received an increase was in 2019.
“Furthermore, during the lockdown, many SOEs were restructured under the leadership of the former Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. During that time, as part of the plan to ‘save Denel’, workers endured many months without any kind of salary.”
Hlubi-Majola said Denel’s acting board chairperson, Gloria Serobe, explained that a 7% increase would be unaffordable and unsustainable long-term, and repeated the offer of a 4% hike.
“After extensive negotiations, it was agreed by all parties that a task team or ‘war room’ would be established to find a sustainable way to fund the increase,” said Hlubi-Majola.
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