Business Report writes that the Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) put out a statement on Monday to say that it was not surprised but once again shocked by the recent settlement agreement in the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC).  

Noting that the agreement would increase wages by 7 %, the Cosatu affiliate stated:  “The development has become a norm in the metal industry where compromised agreements are concluded in board rooms … without workers lifting a figure to employers.  This is however a fact that these settlements represents a decline in terms of achievements compared to previous bargaining rounds.  There is no improvement factor in these settlements therefore in real terms the wages of workers are not increasing at all.”  In an apparent reference to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), Limusa said:  "The real reasons the metal workers are not striking anymore is that the so called biggest metalworkers cannot take a strike because of financial challenges, dictatorship by one leader and leadership divisions, neglect of engineering sector and focussing on new industries and ideological confusion amongst other things."  Limusa indicated that it was “in process of being party to the Council (i.e. MEIBC) to ensure that (in) the next round of negotiations metal workers has a voice that is caring inside the process."

• Read this report by Tamaryn Africa in full at Business Report
• Read Limusa’s press statement at Cosatu Today

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page