Numsa has deadlocked with employers over demands that once a worker who is employed through a labour broker has been contracted to the same employer for six months or more, then that worker must become employed by the primary employer.

The employers have rejected this demand.

“We expect that a certificate will be issued around November 13 saying that the dispute is unresolved,” says engineering sector co-ordinator, Lucas Mthiyane.

“Regions should start discussing what we should do if we get the certificate. Should we call our workers out on strike during this time or should we withdraw this dispute and put back the demand into the 2003 wage negotiations?”