Numsa claims victory

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA yesterday claimed victory in the metals and engineering sector strike - touting the deal with employers as being close enough to what its members wanted.

But the CEO of the National Employers' Association of SA, Gerhard Papenfus, said the deal between Numsa and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA was "suicide".

Many smaller employers are not happy with the settlement and might lock out returning workers today.

The settlement ends a four-week strike by 220000 workers that was costing the sector about R300-million a day.

The union also claimed victory in respect of the most contentious strike issue - a clause in the agreement that prevents either party from negotiating on issues at plant level that are covered by the settlement.

Though Numsa agreed to this, employers wanted a commitment from the union that any discussion at plant level after the agreement was signed would not have cost implications for the company concerned.

Numsa rejected this. In terms of the agreement signed with Seifsa, it will be able to raise issues, negotiate and strike at plant level on some issues.

The agreement, to be signed in Benoni, on the East Rand, today gives the lowest-paid workers a 10% increase a year over the next three years. Middle-bracket workers will get 9% in the first year, 8.7% in the second and 8% in the third. The highest-paid workers will get increases of 8%, 7.5% and 7%.

The 3000 employers affiliated to the National Employers' Association, who employ about 80000 people, will from today be able to lock out returning workers.

But Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said the association would have to abide by the agreement.

He conceded that there was pressure on the union and workers and to end the strike, which was damaging to the economy.

"To say there was not pressure would be lying," said Jim.

The employers' association's Papenfus said the sector was weakened and the "suicidal" wage agreement would accelerate its decline.