Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of South
Africa (Numsa) announced on Sunday a country-wide strike that could see more
than 300 000 workers down their tools
With more than 263 000 members, Numsa is demanding wage
increases of 13% from the metal and engineering industries, down from an
initial demand of 20%.
The mass action is scheduled to start on Monday after wage
negotiations broke down and when an attempt by the Plastics Converters
Association to have a labour court interdict the strike failed.
"The effect of the Labour Court ruling is to the effect that
all workers in the engineering and metal workers, whether union members or not,
can partake in strike action," Numsa said.
"This shall have the effect that 320 000 can take part in
strike action."
Unions and employers are in their mid-year bargaining
session dubbed "strike season", with many labour groups seeking a wage increase
more than double the 4.6% inflation rate.
Workers in the sector - which includes companies such as Macsteel and Panasonic - are expected to down tools over wages and working conditions on Monday.