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Johannesburg - General Motors SA (GMSA) said on Wednesday that it has shut down its main production lines as a result of the ongoing strike which has limited its operations.
Only a quarter of GMSA's workforce reported for work after an estimated 31 000 automotive industry workers downed tools on Wednesday over a wage dispute.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is demanding a 15% wage increment, while their employer - the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo) - is offering 7%.
The strike threatens to disrupt production at the country's leading car manufacturers such as Toyota SA, Ford SA, Volkswagen SA, BMW SA, Nissan SA, General Motors SA and Daimler SA.
GMSA spokesperson Denise van Huyssteen said the company's focus was to minimise the effect of the strike action on its customers and to this end "we have maintained activities in respect of parts supply and in-process vehicle movement".
Van Huyssteen said the main production lines were down at this stage.
"We were able to continue with limited operations today with a quarter of the hourly workforce reporting for work this morning," she said.
GMSA is "deeply concerned" about the strike and the impact it will have on the competitiveness on the motor industry as a whole.
"Actions like this affect the viability of the industry and send a negative message regarding labour costs and flexibility in South Africa, and in so doing we risk becoming a less attractive destination for future investment," Van Huyssteen said.
- I-Net Bridge
Only a quarter of GMSA's workforce reported for work after an estimated 31 000 automotive industry workers downed tools on Wednesday over a wage dispute.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is demanding a 15% wage increment, while their employer - the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation (Ameo) - is offering 7%.
The strike threatens to disrupt production at the country's leading car manufacturers such as Toyota SA, Ford SA, Volkswagen SA, BMW SA, Nissan SA, General Motors SA and Daimler SA.
GMSA spokesperson Denise van Huyssteen said the company's focus was to minimise the effect of the strike action on its customers and to this end "we have maintained activities in respect of parts supply and in-process vehicle movement".
Van Huyssteen said the main production lines were down at this stage.
"We were able to continue with limited operations today with a quarter of the hourly workforce reporting for work this morning," she said.
GMSA is "deeply concerned" about the strike and the impact it will have on the competitiveness on the motor industry as a whole.
"Actions like this affect the viability of the industry and send a negative message regarding labour costs and flexibility in South Africa, and in so doing we risk becoming a less attractive destination for future investment," Van Huyssteen said.
- I-Net Bridge
