Numsa to down tools in engineering sector from Tuesday

The strike is set to go ahead from Tuesday after talks between the union and employers collapsed.

The industrial action is set to start with a march to the bargaining council in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi Majola says workers will down tools until their demands are met.

“We are demanding that employers must put on the table an 8% increase across the board for the first year, and CPI + 2% improvement factor for the second and third year. If CPI + 2% falls below 6%, employers must offer 6% or re-open negotiations.

“This will break the deadlock and avert a strike. If the bosses in the sector cared at all about the fragile economy, they would put a meaningful wage increase on the table. We reject the accusation that NUMSA is threatening the recovery of the economy by embarking on a national strike.

“If anyone is threatening our economic recovery it is these selfish employers who are rampant exploiters, and who give nothing back to workers, whose labour is the key to the success of the organisation.”

She says the union is calling on all workers to join the strike.

“We are calling for a total shutdown of the engineering sector until these stubborn employers see sense. This is a sector which employs a minimum of 430 thousand workers and they can all participate in the strike.”

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