The prolonged metals and engineering sector strike, which has cost the economy more than R600 million, has ended after the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) yesterday announced it would accept a 6.6% incremental wage hike over three-years from employer organisation Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa).
Numsa Secretary general Irvin Jim said employers, the National Employers Association of South Africa (Neasa) and the Consolidated Employers Organisation had to quickly accede to the new wages that would give workers R52.52 per hour in the first year, R55.67 in the second year and R59.01 in year three.
Seifsa chief executive Lucio Trentini said the industry had lost more than R600 million in lost revenue while workers had lost in excess of R300 million in the 13 days of the strike.
“We are happy that Numsa has agreed to the offer. It is a commitment we will be honouring. It has been a bruising three weeks for all of us and it is time now to put everything behind us and rebuild the sector,” said Trentini.
He said employers who had not been part of the bargaining still had provision to apply for exemption to the deal, but that he hoped the industry would ultimately work together in the interest of growing sector.
The agreement comes with backpay for workers dating to July first, though a compromise from the demand for 8%.
