Tebogo Msimanga |
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) will be meeting with employers in the motor sector including the Retail Motor Industries (RMI) and the Fuel Retail Association (FRA) under the auspices of the Motor Industries Bargaining Council (MIBCO), Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC).
The meeting is geared towards breaking the deadlock between the Union and employers and also to discuss picketing rules. (The motor industry represents employees in components manufacturing companies, petrol stations, and car dealerships).
MUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim said they are demanding 12% across the board, overtime rate to be in line with the BCEA for chapter 3 workers and scrapping of discrimination clauses against Numsa members of the Sick & Accident fund
“We demand a peace clause that allows us to raise issues in the workplace that are not covered by the MIBCO collective agreement. These issues we should be able to raise in the workplace. All benefits that are not part of the MCA to be negotiated at plant level”.
Jim further said they hope that employers will improve on the offer they put on the table last time. “The sector employs approximately 306 000 workers nationally and a strike would have a negative impact on the economy, and on our members, because a ‘no work no pay’ policy is likely to be imposed. The talks have been set down for the 23rd and 24th of August”.