South Africa’s main union involved in the mass walk-out that has seen the country’s automotive sector grind to a halt, says there is a “likelihood” talks will start tomorrow (22 August) to resolve the impasse.
Pickets are currently demonstrating outside all seven OEMs as well as two truck and bus companies in South Africa, with the strike now 72h old and costing what employers estimate to be around 3,300 vehicles every day.
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News of any breakthrough to even start negotiations will come as a relief to all sides as no indication has been forthcoming so far at all the parties would sit round the table, despite the strike entering its third day.
“There is a likelihood we will meet tomorrow,” NUMSA (National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa) chief automotive negotiator, Alex Mashilo, told just-auto from South Africa. “The strike continues today and is 100% supported from union members as well as non-union members.
“There is no production going on – we have got pickets at all the front gates of all the companies without exception.”
NUMSA is also organising a series of marches – with one thought to be to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) headquarters in Pretoria – although the union is still hoping for a resolution to the strike before then.
The labour body is demanding a 14% pay rise as well as housing and transport benefits, while NAAMSA has offered 8% against what it says is a South Africa inflation rate of 5.6%.
