Last week NUMSA declared a wage dispute in the Metal and Engineering Sector (MEIBC). They have failed to produce a mutually agreeable wage increase agreement after ongoing wage negotiations between them and several employer’s organisations.
NUMSA’s starting position was a 15% across the board increase, but this has since been reduced to around 8% for year one and then inflation plus 2% for years two and three. The employers’ organisations have slightly different positions. Still, there appears to be some consensus around an increase of 4.1% for year one, inflation plus 0.5% for year two and 1% for year three.
The dispute will now be conciliated at the CCMA. If there is no resolution, the industry is headed for a countrywide strike by NUMSA’s claimed 330 000 members.
The MEIBC has scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday, 10 August, between all the negotiating parties in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
Any strike action will be a further blow to an industry that has already suffered a huge blow to its output and supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in the recent violent political protests that have swept the country.
Employers in the industry will be well advised to make contingency plans should the strike action become a reality.
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