SEIFSA welcomes the end of NUMSA strike that caused enormous losses to SA metal industry

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) has welcomed the NUMSA decision to end the month-long strike which had resulted in enormous losses for the country’s metal industry. The Federation called for all stakeholders in the metals and engineering sector to work together towards the growth of the industry.

NUMSA had called off the strike following an agreement reached between the companies and the union on several outstanding issues, particularly on Section 37, which was a major bone of contention. SEIFSA had to settle with a compromise wording on the matter, as the union rejected the Federation’s preferred wording. It expressed the hope that the compromise wording would shield companies from two-tier bargaining. The union also had accepted the revised offer of 7.5% to 10% pay hike per year for three years according to grade.

The striking NUMSA workers have been demanding 10% wage hike every year for the next three years. The strike which began on July 1^st has brought vast number of companies to a standstill. The striking 220,000 workers had threatened to drag another 100,000 of its members from other sectors into the strike.

As per reports, the strike had adversely affected those companies supplying components and parts to car industry. The strike had also affected other manufacturing sector companies.