Some component manufacturers in South Africa are now working a three-day week as the massive metalworking strike currently gripping the country shows no sign of ending.

Around 220,000 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) have downed tools in support of a three-year pay claim comprising a 10% increase every 12 months to 2016 – a request roundly rejected by the country’s Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA).

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“Some of the motor manufacturing plants are now working on a reduced working pattern – there will be a knock-on effect on T1 suppliers,” Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO) convener component industry spokesman, Mark Roberts, told just-auto from South Africa.

“There are consequences that will spill over. Suppliers are not supplying…to motor manufacturing plants. Because of that, the knock-on effect is on us, the component industry, we have to work a reduced week.

“At the moment it varies from sector to sector, but probably at this stage, they are [taking] Mondays and Fridays out, they are down to a three-day week.

“It [pay claim] is a three-year agreement – same old same old – it lacks any originality. We [suppliers] are at arms length, because there is a huge knock-on effect on our industry.”

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SEIFSA said this morning (16 July) it would now focus its efforts to resolve the current impasse through the auspices of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC).

The employer body now says it will offer 10% in 2014, 9% in 2015 and 8% in 2016 respectively for Rate H workers and 8% in 2014, 7,5% in 2015 and 7% in 2016 respectively for Rate A workers.

“Regrettably, our genuine efforts to bring the strike to an end as soon as possible were not successful,” said SEIFSA CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba.

“We have now decided to work with all stakeholders within the Bargaining Council in the hope of securing an agreement.

“We welcome the fact the MEIBC has scheduled a plenary session to take place this week.”

Reports are also circulating in South Africa several automakers have been forced to idle plants.