Metal industry employers refuse negotiations with unions

By Tando Mfengwana
11 May 2007

Negotiations in the metal industry reached a stalemate as employers refused to negotiate with unions about condition of service yesterday.

In a statement Solidarity says that the five unions representing workers walked out of the negotiations.

Solidarity general secretary, Johan Pieterse said if the employers “persist in their refusal to negotiate about conditions of service, we will embark on a process of declaring a dispute and this may end in strike.”

The statement said that the principal aim in this year’s wage negotiations were to obtain an 11percent wage increase for all workers in the industry.

The unions also demand a 5 percent scarcity allowance on the salaries of workers.

Pieterse says that the industry has experienced tremendous growth and profits just disappear to company coffers, without a cent reaching the workers.

The industry’s current wage agreement will expire on the 30th of June 2007.