Solidarity and others declare metals industry dispute

Trade union Solidarity, along with other unions, have declared a dispute with employers in the metals and engineering industry over stalled wage negotiations that are currently under way at the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC), reports Engineering News. Solidarity deputy general secretary Marius Croucamp said the employers put demands on the table that were not acceptable, but added: ‘We remain committed to negotiating with a view to achieve a wage settlement.’ Solidarity submitted its new main wage agreement to the council on 7 June, demanding an increase of 10%, while the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) sought an increase of 15% on the actual rate of what workers were earning, as opposed to the minimum wage. On 9 June, employers in the MEIBC offered 5.3% across the board for the first year of a three-year agreement based on the minimum rate, which Numsa rejected. The current wage agreement lapses at the end of June.