Numsa awaits employers' response

Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA is waiting for employer body Seifsa to respond to its demand for a 10% wage increase, Numsa said on Monday afternoon.

"After Seifsa's further discussions with Numsa in today's meeting on the issues of wages, they made an undertaking to go back to their council for a mandate," the union said in a statement.

The parties met on Monday in the wake of a two-week long strike in the metals sector.

On Sunday, Numsa said it rejected the employers' wage offer.

Thousands of Numsa members went on strike on July 1, initially demanding a salary increase of 12%, dropped from their pre-strike demand of 15%, a R1 000 housing allowance, and a total ban on labour brokers.

The union lowered its wage demand to 10% at the weekend.

Employer body, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa), tabled a three-year wage offer of between eight and 10% for different levels of workers in the first year.

The National Employers Association of South Africa (Neasa) has offered 8%, subject to an agreement on the reduction of the entry-level wage.

Numsa would meet on Tuesday to consider intensifying the strike action, it said.