Metal sector wants to comb council's books

Employers in the metal and engineering industry want a forensic audit carried out on the sector's bargaining council at their expense - and until that is done they will not budge on a levy increase. At a meeting on Wednesday this week to vote on a proposed 18% hike in the levy paid by companies and workers, which the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council said was critical for its survival, employers called for the audit to investigate whether the council had mismanaged funds.