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Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is considering a new pay offer for members in the automotive industry, employers said on Monday.
"The Numsa leadership is meeting their structures [on Monday] to consider our proposals," Retail Motor Industry organisation (RMI) CEO Jakkie Olivier said.
The last meeting between employers and the union took place on Sunday night as a strike by Numsa members entered its fourth week.
Numsa could not immediately be reached for comment.
SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) chief executive Neren Rau said the chamber was worried about the economic impact of the strike.
"Sacci is concerned by the refusal of Numsa to commit to a collective bargaining agreement that would return the motor industry operations to normal."
Harmonious industrial relations are required if South Africa hoped to build its motor manufacturing industry.
"Irresponsible acts" by the unions are more likely to lead to disinvestment, he said.
"It is because of this acrimony that South Africa’s international rankings in industrial relations have fallen to the bottom of the list."
The vehicle manufacturing strike alone had cost the South African economy around R20bn.
Rau said Sacci would write to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to ask for protection from intimidation for all employees who wanted to go to work.
