Vavi: Numsa is an example to follow

Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA's (Numsa's) current labour strike should serve as an example to other unions, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Friday.

"Let's hope that the union and employers will soon reach an acceptable settlement and that other unions, including Fawu, will then make similar demands," said Vavi in a speech prepared for delivery at the Food and Allied Workers Union's regional congress in Port Elizabeth.

He said the union demands should aim to achieve "decent wages and conditions and the end of casualisation and labour broking".

Vavi also said that Numsa's demands were "fully justifiable".

On July 1, about 220 000 Numsa members began an indefinite strike for a 12% wage increase, a R1 000 housing allowance and the total ban of labour brokers.

On Friday, Numsa spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the union was consulting members on a revised offer from the metal and engineering employers.