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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has told its members in the steel and engineering sector to be ready “for any eventuality” as it is engaged in wage talks with employers in the Metals Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC).
The union tabled its demands for increases of 7% in the first year and 6% for the second and third years of a multi-year deal during the first round of talks on 10 April 2024. Numsa has called on employer bodies such as the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa)t and the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa) to table a meaningful wage offer based on the actual rates of pay – not on the minimum rate of pay – in the sector, where the lowest-paid employee earns R59.10 per hour. Lucio Trentini, CEO of Seifsa, which is the sector’s largest employer body, described the first round of talks as a “very good round, it was a positive round”. He went on to say: “We are very encouraged by how Numsa framed their demands. It opens the way for a potentially painless settlement. We are positive and no-one at this stage is talking about downing tools or bringing the industry to a standstill. We are hoping for a speedy settlement by looking at what the unions are looking for and what the industry can afford.” The second round of talks is scheduled for Wednesday, with the final round set to be held on 8 May.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page