Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity announced on Thursday that it would pursue bilateral talks with employer organisations in the metals and engineering sector in a bid to break a three-week deadlock in wage negotiations.  

Talks at the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) broke down on 15 June and some unions in the sector are reportedly seeking a strike certificate.  Solidarity’s Marius Croucamp said in a statement that the union was determined to avoid a strike in the “beleaguered” industry, where jobs were under threat.  A three-pronged strategy would be pursued, starting with a request that the MEIBC extend negotiations.  Should this approach fail, Solidarity would approach the CCMA to intervene.  Thirdly, the union might pursue direct talks with those small- and medium-sized enterprises that have expressed concern over their ongoing sustainability should a strike be called.

• Read this report in full at Engineering News
• Read Solidarity’s press statement at Solidarity online

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