Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) consulted its members on the wage offer in the metal sector, the union said on Sunday.
Spokesperson Castro Ngobese said Numsa held a special national executive committee (NEC) which was attended by worker leaders from across the country and members of the national bargaining team.
Housing allowances
"The special NEC has agreed to consult members on its deliberations in relation to the ongoing strike," he said in a statement.
"We call on all our striking members to join picketing lines on Monday morning to hear the deliberations of the NEC."
More than 200 000 Numsa members in the metal and engineering sector downed tools on July 1, demanding a salary increase of 12%, down from their pre-strike demand of 15%.
They also demanded a R1 000 housing allowance and a total ban on labour brokers.
The union announced on July 13 that it had lowered its wage demand to 10%.
Ngobese said a media briefing was planned for Monday afternoon to publicly communicate the union's final decision.
Parties deadlocked
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant proposed a wage increase of 10% to low-level employees over the next three years.
The labour department and Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration facilitated talks between the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa and unions after negotiations between the parties deadlocked.
The new proposal included a three-year agreement with increases of between 8 - 10%, depending on whether the workers were higher or lower earners.
