4 August, 2014The month long strike is over after members in the engineering sector overwhelmingly and unanimously accepted the settlement negotiated by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa).
The settlement provide a 10 per cent wage increase every year for lowest paid members in the sector and 8 per cent increase for the highest paid for the next three years. Other gains were time-off for shop stewards to attend to union and industry matters; the establishment of an industry short-time fund which will be used to compensate workers when they are on short time and training opportunities for workers.
It was also agreed that workers employed by labour brokers shall be entitled to all the terms and conditions of employment as contained in the Main Agreement. The bargaining council has undertaken to employ labour broker compliance officers who will act on complaints of abuse and non-compliance. All parties to the agreement also committed to discourage and minimize the use of temporary employment services in the industry.
“NUMSA wishes to thank all our allies and friends across the world for supporting us during this long month. The union is more united and growing,” said Numsa International Officer, Skhumbuzo Phakathi.