The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is to embark on a wage strike on Wednesday (September 12, 2007) in the motor component suppliers, retail and body repair workshops throughout the country.

Other sectors to be affected by the strike include auto spare assembly, car cleaning, motor vehicle sales and panel beating workshops

Production in the major multinational car manufacturing plants will in turn be severely affected by the indefinite strike in the component manufacturing and motor retail sectors.

Some car manufacturers have issued notices that the plants would be forced to halt operations with immediate effect because of anticipated non-availability of the parts.

More than 50 000 Numsa members have given 48 hours notices of a protected strike in support of their demands for 9% increases on actual wages for the three-year term agreement or R509 a week, minimum R2 200 monthly wages for the six sector, 2,3,4,5,6, and 7 covered by the motor main agreement.

The Motor Retail Industry (RMI) has offered to give all these sectors increases based on minimum prescribed rates for different grades which ranges between 7% and 9%.

Numsa motor national co-coordinator Elias Kubeka said employers displayed horrendous attitude in rejecting the demand for an end to discriminatory clauses which effected area differentials on rate of pay and this mobilized workers to opt for disruptive and indefinite strike.

The union also demanded annual bonuses equivalent to three and four weeks on actual wages, but employers offered only two weeks bonuses based on minimums per grade.

Countrywide protest marches and pickets on factories premises will resume on Wednesday.

For further information contact:

Mziwakhe Hlangani, Numsa national spokesperson

Cell phone: 082 9407116

E-mail : mziwakheh@numsa.org.za