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Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) denied industry assertions on Friday that it had reached a wage deal with steel and engineering firms, and said it has not called off its strike.
Tens of thousands of steel workers downed tools nearly two weeks ago demanding a 13% wage rise, almost three times the inflation rate and nearly double the employers’ offer of 7%.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) said earlier an agreement had been reached on Thursday night and that it had brought the strike to an end.
“The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa refutes reports that we have called off the strike and we have reached a settlement agreement with Seifa,” Numsa said in a statement.
“We want to state clearly that no offer has been accepted or signed by the leadership of the union... As the union, we are currently busy engaging our members pertaining to the latest and revised offer,” it said.
Production and financial losses from the strike are expected to be substantial. Seifsa said earlier workers would start returning to work from Monday.
Strikes spread this week as several sectors joined industrial action in the petrol industry that has raised concerns about fuel supplies in Africa’s biggest economy.
Tens of thousands of fuel workers began walking off the job on Monday, delaying deliveries and sparking panic buying at service stations in Johannesburg. Refineries are still operating and petrol is being delivered to most pump stations, but a prolonged and widening strike could hurt the transport sector and affect economic growth.
Economists said the cost of the strike could run into billions of rand should it continue into next week.
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union said talks with employers were scheduled for Monday.
The latest to join the wave of strikes were 2 000 workers from Pioneer Food Group’s Sasko grain unit, the Food and Allied Workers Union said on Friday.
Unions and employers are locked in their mid-year bargaining session known as strike season, with many labour groups seeking wage increases that far exceed inflation. Central bank and Treasury officials have said high wage increases threaten the outlook for inflation, interest rates and long-term prospects for the economy.
Possible strikes also loom in South Africa’s platinum, coal and gold industries, threatening global supplies of the key commodities at a time when prices are red hot.
Tens of thousands of steel workers downed tools nearly two weeks ago demanding a 13% wage rise, almost three times the inflation rate and nearly double the employers’ offer of 7%.
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) said earlier an agreement had been reached on Thursday night and that it had brought the strike to an end.
“The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa refutes reports that we have called off the strike and we have reached a settlement agreement with Seifa,” Numsa said in a statement.
“We want to state clearly that no offer has been accepted or signed by the leadership of the union... As the union, we are currently busy engaging our members pertaining to the latest and revised offer,” it said.
Production and financial losses from the strike are expected to be substantial. Seifsa said earlier workers would start returning to work from Monday.
Strikes spread this week as several sectors joined industrial action in the petrol industry that has raised concerns about fuel supplies in Africa’s biggest economy.
Tens of thousands of fuel workers began walking off the job on Monday, delaying deliveries and sparking panic buying at service stations in Johannesburg. Refineries are still operating and petrol is being delivered to most pump stations, but a prolonged and widening strike could hurt the transport sector and affect economic growth.
Economists said the cost of the strike could run into billions of rand should it continue into next week.
The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union said talks with employers were scheduled for Monday.
The latest to join the wave of strikes were 2 000 workers from Pioneer Food Group’s Sasko grain unit, the Food and Allied Workers Union said on Friday.
Unions and employers are locked in their mid-year bargaining session known as strike season, with many labour groups seeking wage increases that far exceed inflation. Central bank and Treasury officials have said high wage increases threaten the outlook for inflation, interest rates and long-term prospects for the economy.
Possible strikes also loom in South Africa’s platinum, coal and gold industries, threatening global supplies of the key commodities at a time when prices are red hot.
