Since April 2013, Numsa has been negotiating with Fuel Retailers Association (FRA) and Retail Motor Industry (RMI) employers to improve wages, conditions of employment and benefits.

The motor industry employers do business in the following sectors: petrol stations; component manufacturers; auto aftermarket; car dealerships; panel-beaters, etc.

A mediated process came to an end on 28th August 2013 with no significant improvement to write home about. The current deadlock stands as follows;

• The FRA made a final offer of 9.5% increase for garage workers and later withdrew it and reduced it to 7% because Numsa refused to settle on those terms;

• The RMI offer is as follows:

1. Wages: 6.5% increase on minimum guaranteed monetary value in all Sectors except Chapter 3. Chapter 3 increase of 5.5% on Actuals.

2. They are withdrawing all employer demands

3. They are demanding that Numsa withdraw all other demands;

4. The current duration, cycle, wage model and extension of the Agreement must apply.

5. They will not review this offer until NUMSA’s wage proposal is in single digit.

The Numsa Central Committee resolved that strike action is inevitable in view of the fact that employers are intransigent to resolve the impasse and the fact that the 3-year Motor Industry Main Agreement comes to an end.

The Numsa National Office Bearers were mandated by the Central Committee to undertake the following interventions;

1. Embark on further engagement with employer organizations on 5-6 September 2013 in an endeavor to find an industry settlement;

2. Should the meetings of 5-6 September 2013 not yield any results, then strike action shall commence on 9th September 2013

For more information, contact Edward at Edwardr@numsa.org.za