NATIONAL NEWS - The possibility of a motor sector strike has increased significantly after a two-day Motor Industry Bargaining Council (Mibco) dispute resolution committee meeting with unions and employers failed to break the deadlock in negotiations over a new agreement.
The sector employs about 306 000 workers nationally, with the motor retail, fuel and automotive component manufacturing sectors falling under the Mibco.
Any strike in the automotive component manufacturing sector is likely to have a knock-on effect on vehicle manufacturers and, depending on the duration of any strike, force locally based vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to suspend production because of a shortage of components.
Deadlock
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim said on Thursday the failure of engagements with the employers in the motor sector, including the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and the Fuel Retailers Association (FRA), means “we are now at the point where we are forced to declare a deadlock”.
Jim said Numsa will be organising National Shop Stewards Council meetings in the coming weeks with its members in order to mobilise them.
“We will also wait for a date from the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] for conciliation to deal with picketing rules. We are at the mercy of the CCMA and employers,” he said.
“The ball is in their court. They have the power to stop the looming national strike in the motor sector if they put a meaningful offer on the table. We are always ready to talk and there is still time to avert a strike.”
RMI chief negotiator Jacques Viljoen said it is concerning that Numsa, which according to audited membership numbers represents only 18% of the sector with 57 000 members, is threatening industrial action.
Viljoen said industrial action could pose a serious challenge for the recovery of the sector following the recent national state of disaster and the civil unrest in 2021.
He stressed that the RMI places a high premium on labour stability and industry peace and is taking these negotiations extremely seriously. Viljoen denied a Numsa claim that the RMI has not yet tabled an offer.
“Until recently, much time was spent on the identification of core non-wage demands from the trade unions, which have been dealt with. On 3 August 2022, the RMI tabled a wage offer, which is aligned to inflation forecasts for the intended three-year period of the collective agreement, to the general secretary and party heads,” he said.
The current collective agreement expires on 31 August.
