The National Union of Metalworkers of SA(Numsa) is set to embark on an indefinite national strike on October 5 in support of its demands of above-inflation increases in the steel and engineering sector.
“We have secured a certificate of non-resolution, which allows the union and all its members in the engineering sector to embark on a national strike,” said Numsa, South Africa’s largest metalworkers’ union with 360,000 members, in a statement on Tuesday.
Employers in the important economic sector, which has struggled amid an economic downturn exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, have balked at Numsa’s demands for an 8% rise in the first year and inflation plus 2% for the following two years.
Industry body, Seifsa, which is offering a 4.4% hike for 2021, inflation plus 0.5% in 2022 and inflation plus 1% in the third year confirmed the deadlock and strike call with Reuters.
“We will launch the strike with a national march,” said Numsa.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) said strike action would have significant impact on the struggling economy and companies.
“We have experienced unprecedented job losses and companies are really struggling to keep their doors open,” said CEO of Seifsa, Lucio Trentini.
