It’s a crunch week for the motor sector, with negotiations going down in an try and resolve a impasse and keep away from a strike by the 306 000 employees employed by, amongst others, automotive part producers, petrol service stations and automotive dealerships.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) nationwide spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola stated negotiations will happen on Tuesday and Wednesday with employers within the motor sector, together with the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and Fuel Retailers Association (FRA).
“This is our last meeting to unlock the deadlock, otherwise we are going on strike in the motor sector,” she stated, including that Numsa represents 90 000 of the 306 000 employees within the sector.
Numsa is demanding a one-year motor sector settlement and a 12% across-the-board wage improve.
The negotiations are going down beneath the auspices of the Motor Industries Bargaining Council (MIBCO).
Three rounds of talks
Numsa normal secretary Irvin Jim stated it has had three rounds of wage talks with bosses within the sector for the reason that first spherical of negotiations on 23 and 24 March and that regardless of these engagements, the sector has not tabled a suggestion.
“Numsa has offered its wage calls for. The administration retains demanding that we should cut back our demand however they’ve put nothing on the desk.
“They have not made an offer. They may as well have put zero on the table!” he stated.
RMI CEO Jakkie Olivier stated on Monday the mediation session the negotiating groups will interact in over the following two days is a part of a course of and that for the RMI to touch upon element now could be untimely and might doubtlessly undermine the bargaining course of.
He stated there are a few points which might be going to affect the method, the largest of which pertains to Numsa’s nationwide convention final week, which was not with out its challenges.
“We are eager to listen to from Numsa over the following two days as to what transpired of their nationwide convention and the way that’s going to affect on our negotiations.
“As employers, we’re assured {that a} resolution is feasible that can shield the trade and labour and shield the sustainability [of the sector]. That is what is essential for us going ahead.
“If the unions and employers are critical about defending the trade on the again of all the pieces that has occurred during the last couple of years, I feel an answer shall be potential and the method will produce that, because it has previously.
“We have never been without an agreement, even if it took a strike,” he stated.
Dispute declared, now to resolve it
Jim confirmed that Numsa has declared a dispute with employers and shall be assembly them this week beneath the auspices of the Dispute Resolution Committee of MIBCO, with the view to breaking the impasse.
Read:
“We hope to resolve this over the following two days. If we fail to seek out each other, then sadly we shall be headed for a nationwide strike.
“We will then proceed with picketing guidelines and demand {that a} certificates of strike is issued.
“A strike can be avoided. All we are asking for is meaningful engagement,” stated Jim.
“Numsa remains ready to talk and we urge them to work with us to resolve this impasse”
He added that the present settlement with the motor sector expires on 30 August and claimed that it’s apparent that employers are utilizing delaying techniques.
Manufacturers
Meanwhile, the third spherical of negotiations within the auto sector between Numsa and the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo), whose members are the seven native authentic tools producers (OEMs), is scheduled to happen this month.
Andile Dlamini, a spokesperson for Ameo, stated on Monday the date for the following spherical of negotiations with Numsa is but to be confirmed however careworn the negotiations are “a fairly long process”.
Dlamini confirmed that the newest three-year settlement between Ameo and Numsa expired on 31 July, however stated it was agreed between the events as a part of the expired settlement that the 2019 settlement will nonetheless be relevant till the following settlement has been signed.
He confirmed that Ameo once more needs a three-year settlement with Numsa as a result of it ensures stability within the trade, however declined to touch upon any Numsa calls for or gives made by Ameo.
“Once agreement has been reached, that will be available,” he stated.
Demands
During the primary spherical of negotiation over a brand new settlement, Numsa tabled its calls for to the National Bargaining Forum (NBF).
Numsa’s core calls for embody:
-
An across-the-board wage improve of 20%;
-
A one-year settlement;
-
100% fee throughout short-time and layoff; and
-
Movement of employees from expertise Level 4 to Level 5.
Numsa stated the 100% fee throughout short-time and layoff is a burning challenge for its members, as a result of employees previously two years have been subjected to extreme quick time, which has led to employees turning into “hugely indebted”.
Read:
The union stated the motion of employees from Level 4 to Level 5 has been an issue for the previous 10 years, with most workers stopping at Level 4, which has an affect on their incomes potential.
Numsa claimed that Ameo members, “after reaping massive profits”, are proposing:
-
A 3-year settlement; and
-
Wage will increase primarily based on the buyer worth index (CPI), with a wage improve of 6.2% proposed in 12 months one of many settlement, 5.6% in 12 months two and 4.7% in 12 months three.
Numsa’s Irvin Jim stated employers began their presentation by claiming they’re “breaking new ground” however it appears that evidently what they meant by that’s that “they intend to give workers below inflation increases”.
