DURBAN - More than 2000 National Union of Metal Workers of SA (Numsa) members gathered in the Durban CBD this morning as part of the union's national strike action after wage negotiations deadlocked in the engineering sector.
The workers are making their way from King Dinuzulu Park in Berea to the Durban City Hall.
Marches were also expected to be held in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola told The Star newspaper on Monday that the strike would affect all employees of the engineering sector.
"It's a legal strike and everyone can participate. This strike could affect all 430 000 workers in the engineering industry," Hlubi-Majola said.
She said talks between the employer and unions were deadlocked, with unions asking for an 8% increase, but employers offering just over 4%.
"We are still deadlocked and our members are rejecting the offer because the employers are not demonstrating that they care. Workers and their families have sacrificed a lot over the Covid-19 period. They never got an increase last year," Hlubi-Majola said.
Numsa posted on its Twitter account: "We are demanding that 8% increase across the board for the first year, and CPI (consumer price index) + 2% improvement factor for the second and third year. If CPI + 2% falls below 6%, employers must offer 6% or re-open negotiations."
THE MERCURY