No progress on strike says Numsa

"We have been talking, but no concrete offer has been forthcoming from the employers. The strike continues," Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said.

About 31,000 Numsa-aligned workers downed tools on Monday (19 August) after pay talks deadlocked last month.

The workers demanded a 14% across-the-board wage increase. They also wanted a R750 monthly housing subsidy and a R125 weekly transport allowance.

The union says the employers, who include VW, Toyota, BMW, Nissan, UD Trucks, and MAN Truck and Bus, tabled a six percent offer. Wages in the sector range from about R8,500 a month for basic workers to R18,000 a month for qualified technicians, according to the union.

Numsa was planning marches to various employers next week. "The preparations for the marches are going well, everything is on track," said Jim.

Production had stopped at factories in Pretoria, where the industry was concentrated and in Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London, the union said.

National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) spokesman Thapelo Molapo was not available for comment.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge