The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) rejected a 10% wage hike offered by the industry in an effort to end the two-week-long strike.
Employers spokesman Kaizer Nyatsumba said in a statement that in a meeting with a union industry representatives had exhausted their mandate and withdrawn the final offer made last week.
Workers were offered a 10% wage hike this year, followed by an increase of 9.5% in 2015 and 9% in 2016.
"It is regrettable that our final offer intended to end the strike was not accepted. The current industrial action is continuing to damage SA's economy," Nyatsumba said.
Over 200,000 Numsa members in the key engineering and metal sector downed tools on 1 July over pay.
Union leaders have framed the dispute as part of a broader class struggle to redress the wrongs of apartheid and it is demanding double digit increases from employers.
In its list of demands, the union insisted it would strike until the lowest paid non-skilled workers made R6,000 rand a month, equivalent to a 12% increase.
It also wants a one-year deal rather than the three years offered by employers and and is calling for increased staff housing allowances. Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese told AFP that there were no wage talks going on right now.
The strike began just days after the end of a five-month platinum strike, which caused the economy to contract in the first quarter and pushed the country to the brink of recession.
The stoppages are set to have a knock-on effect on car manufacturing firms, as component suppliers are participating in the strike.
Car manufacturer BMW said last week that nine of its more than 200 suppliers were hit by the industrial action and the company planned to reduce its production to deal with metal shortages.
Dozens of Numsa members have been arrested for public violence and intimidation of non-striking workers since the walkout began.
Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
