South African Metalworkers End Strike As Fuel Walkout Widens

A huge rally for the striking National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). The 200,000 workers strike has spread to other industries including chemicals and may affect mining., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Metalworkers end strike as fuel walkout widens

TIISETSO MOTSOENENG | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -
Jul 17 2011 17:26

Tens of thousands of workers ended a two-week pay strike in the South African steel and engineering sector on Sunday while petroleum workers plan to widen a week-long walkout that left hundreds of the nation's fuel pumps dry, union leaders said.

Steel workers accepted a 10% wage rise from the employers' body, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa had initially demanded a 13% increase while SEIFSA's original offer was a 7% rise.

"Workers will therefore return to work in the next 48 hours starting on Monday," Numsa spokesperson Castro Ngobese said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the pay strike in the domestic petroleum sector is expected to widen from Monday after trade union Solidarity said on Sunday its mostly skilled members at petrochemical group Sasol would join the industrial action that left hundreds of fuel pumps dry.

"It is expected their plants will come to a standstill as almost all of the technical and strategic posts at these plants are filled by Solidarity members," the union said in a statement.

South African unions and employers are locked in their mid-year bargaining session known as "strike season", with many labour groups seeking wage increases that far exceed inflation.

Production losses in the steel sector are expected to be substantial although top makers of metal ArcelorMittal South Africa and Evraz Highveld Steel & Vanadium were not affected as they negotiate directly with their employees.

The 10% increment is above the inflation rate of around 7% and raises worries about inflation and interest rates outlook in Africa's biggest economy.

About 70 000 workers, led by the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU), in the fuel industry have been on strike since Monday demanding a 13% wage increases, above the 4% to 7% offered by employers.

Solidarity members at Sasol will join CEPPWAWU from Monday in a strike that has delayed fuel deliveries and sparked panic-buying at service stations.

"One of the reasons why the strike has become so drawn out is because Solidarity members are still keeping production going at plants," said Dirk Hermann, Solidarity's deputy general secretary.

"Paradoxically, the sooner Solidarity joins the strike, the sooner it will be over." - Reuters

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://mg.co.za/article/2011-07-17-metalworkers-end-strike-as-fuel-walkout-widens