Numsa threat to motor sector collective bargaining Article by: Karl Gernetzky Source: Business Day Date:30 September 2013 THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has threatened to collapse collective bargaining in the motor sector, saying if wage negotiations employer body the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) organisation remained deadlocked this week the union would revert to company-level agreements. While Numsa members at petrol pumps resolved their dispute at the weekend and agreed to return to work, employees at motor component manufacturers and vehicle workshops dug in their heels to prolong the three weeks of strike action that have had a sporadic impact upon motorists. This has caused an almost complete halt to assembly lines at car makers, causing the production loss of thousands of vehicles a day, as well as lost wages for metal workers. This is despite vehicle makers reaching a three-year, double-digit wage settlement with Numsa earlier this month after three weeks of idled assembly lines estimated to have cost producers R20bn. Speaking at a briefing on Friday, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said employers were no longer treating the union as an "insider" but rather an adversary. This called into question the hard-fought right of collective bargaining, he said. Successive strikes have also led to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) maintaining that the current "one-size-fits-all approach was not delivering the labour stability and productivity so essential to ensure continued international investment and industry competitiveness". Naamsa director Nico Vermuelen said last week this meant that a "serious strategic review" would be required before future wage negotiations. At issue is the current round of negotiations, with employers demanding a "peace clause" in any wage settlement that would prevent further industrial action based on company-level demands. Mr Jim said if employers wanted a peace clause they must "buy it". He cited the example of employers moving their premises due to worker transportation costs. Numsa is continuing to demand double-digit increases, having rejected an offer by employers of a 9% increase this year, and 8% next year and in 2015. Wage negotiations with the RMI continued over the weekend. Numsa, however, has brokered a three-year wage deal with the Fuel Retailers Association, with workers at garages and petrol pumps expected to return to work today. The agreement would see workers receive an 11.6% increase this year, and 9% increases for 2014 and 2015. This agreement is expected to result in higher prices at the pump for motorists. The RMI said in a statement on Friday that the organisation was positive in the wake of the settlement reached between Numsa and the Fuel Retailers Association.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:14:05 +0000