DATE : 03 May 2004
Johannesburg NUMSA PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE USE
CAR EMPLOYERS GIVE WORKERS A SHAMEFUL 4,4% WAGE HIKE.
The first round of wage negotiations between the National Union Of Metalworkers Of South Africa (NUMSA) and the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (AMEO) hit a stalemate on Friday. The employer organisation offered a shameful CPIX 4,4 percent wage increase to all workers in the vehicle manufacturing companies and rejected all the other demands. The parties are meeting again this week on Friday 07/05/2004. The union has since submitted the following demands:
Numsa”˜s Demands.
-A guaranteed wage hike of 15 percent across the board;
– 3-year wage agreement;
-Training should take place during working hours;
-100% payment of maternity leave;
-For every artisan there must be four apprentices;
-Workers working under the labour brokers should be employed permanently after 3 months;
-Any bonus should be calculated at 11%;
-Provide anti-retroviral drugs to HIVAIDS sufferers and must be given 30 days sick leave circle;
-Negotiate additional categories of workers for level 5;
-5 days per occurrence for family responsibility leave.
NUMSA is disappointed that the employers failed to live up to expectations and keep to their promises of negotiating in good faith. Now that inflation has popped its head at lower levels , the union cannot accept an increase lower than 15 percent. All pleas to increase the offer dramatically fell on deaf ears. In fact, the recalcitrant employer organisation current stance to offer a lower wage increase cannot be seen as an attempt to develop closer cooperation and to increase the confidence of the workforce in the industry. What is so devastating about a lower wage increase are the consequences for export credibility. Announcing 4,4 percent wage offer cannot be considered as creative, invigorate and economically responsible. The employer organisation is acting in aberration of the previous informal meetings and has found itself in the invidious position of not wanting to give a better increase. AMEO is falling out of line with their promises of settling wage talks amicably without any industrial action. The response of the employers has not been dignified and rational.
It is our view that the employer organization is inviting conflict. The employer organisation simply neglects the fact that workers are parents and deserve a fair and equitable wage increase considering that most of the car companies recently received export deals. We have informed the employer organisation to move out of narrow and simplistic wage impasse and to give workers real wages. Most of the union demands are designed to cushion workers purchasing power as to make the economy grow. To the union this is important not only for workers income but to contribute positively to the economy and the car- manufacturing industry. Most of the workers are bearing the brunt of the unemployment crisis.
The union will aggressively press hard for employers to increase the offer in the next round of wage talks. It is incumbent on AMEO to increase the tempo and give substantial increases for workers. Most of the car workers are on the grinding edge of poverty and unemployment by giving a good wage increase will ensure a steady closing of poverty levels. It is important that employers pay attention to the plight of unemployment and other social costs and begin to give an equitable increase that will ensure industry stability.
For more information contact Dumisa Ntuli at 689 1700 or cell 0829737282 – http:www.numsa.org.za