Workers have demonstrated exceptional bravery in taking the bosses head on and challenging a sector where the lowest paid worker must survive on R 1814.04 per month.

Selfish, stubborn and arrogant motor employers
The motor industry strike took four weeks to resolve simply because employers arrogantly and stubbornly stuck to their demand for a peace clause and refused to budge on their opening wage offer of 5,9%.

Numsa was totally against the peace clause because it prevents workers’ right to strike on any issue while the agreement is in force. Many individual employers promised workers higher plant level increases to try and break the strike. But workers held firm and won wage increases of: 10% for the components sector for this year.

Next year (and in the third year) there will be an 8% increase; 11.6 % this year for those that work in garages (the fuel retail sector), with 9% for year 2 and 9% for year 3.9% for the rest of the motor sector for this year and 8% in the following two years of the agreement.

Other breakthroughs are: a commitment by the bosses to give 25 cents every year until 2019 to sort out area differentials in the garage/fuel retail sector. No longer will a char in Upington be paid less than one in Johannesburg just because of where she lives.

Agreement to follow up with the department of labour and CCMA to see whether when workers are put on short-time they can access the training layoff scheme, Meanwhile Numsa is asking a legal expert for an opinion on whether the peace clause goes against the rights laid down in the country’s constitution.

Numsa salutes motor workers and their families for their sacrifices to win what they deserved.

Victory in the auto sector
Workers have taken collective action in the strike and have been ready to sacrifice. This is what has delivered a double digit increase in the auto sector, together with some improvements in benefits and conditions. (for more see page 10)

Tyre manufacturers and Eskom wage disputes
As we settle the national motor and auto industry strikes we are heading towards a tyre manufacturing industry wage deadlock and a wage deadlock in Eskom. It is Numsa’s appeal that management of these sectors must look reasonably at the demands of Numsa members if we are to avoid industrial action.

Numsa has made reasonable compromises in order to resolve the strike. We set out on page 8 and 9 the demands and responses.