Numsa mulls wage offer

Johannesburg - A spokesperson for the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), Castro Ngobese, said on Friday that the union would hold a media conference on Sunday to announce the outcome of meetings with members on the revised offer from employers.

After the NEC meeting, all nine Numsa regions met to give members feedback and decide on mandates as to what should constitute a resolution of the strike.

Housing allowance

The labour department has facilitated meetings between Numsa and employers' associations in an attempt to resolve the strike, which began on July 1.

In a memorandum to employers, Numsa demanded a 12% wage increase with effect from July 1 and a R1 000 housing allowance in a one-year bargaining agreement.

Their demand was originally for 15%.

The union also demanded the total ban of labour brokers.

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) tabled a three-year wage offer of between 8 - 10% for different levels of workers in the first year.

The first category of worker was offered 7% in 2015 and 2016, while the others were offered 9% in the second year and 8% in the final year.

Close to an agreement

The employers' organisation, representing 27 independent employer associations with a membership of over 2 000 companies, also scrapped its demand for the wages of entry-level workers to be halved.

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

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant's spokesperson Mokgadi Pela said on Monday the parties were close to an agreement.

"We are trying to iron out some sticky issues," he said at the time.