Thousands of workers in the metal and engineering industries will start protests on Thursday, building up to a full-scale strike on July 12, trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday.
The protests are over a wage dispute with employees, who are offering 1% less than the amount demanded by the union.
Solidarity said it is requesting a 6% increase for workers in higher levels, and 7% for those on lower levels. Employees, however, are offering 5% for higher levels and 6% for lower levels.
”We base these demands on the increase in inflation faced by an average steel workers, which we calculated at approximately 5,8%,” said Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of Solidarity.
”Protest action will begin tomorrow with work to rule and a ban on overtime and stand-by duty.”
Hermann said the protest will be followed on Monday with picketing at large employers and will culminate in a full-scale strike on July 12, accompanied by a protest march in Johannesburg.
”We are not negotiating on behalf of the average South African, but on behalf of the average steel worker,” he said.
”Any wage offer that is less than worker inflation is a wage decrease and not a wage increase. We believe the current inflation rate does not provide a realistic picture of costs faced by employees.”
In a memorandum, released on Wednesday, Solidarity set out its reasons for the strike action:
to better their position.
— Sapa
