TimesLive reports that over 600 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) embarked on a wage strike on Saturday at the South 32 aluminium smelter in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.  

The union is reported to be demanding a 7.5% increase as part of a one-year wage deal – but 8.2% for the lowest-earning workers.  It also has a number of other demands, including equal pay for equal work.  According to the union, South 32 wants a three-year deal and is offering an increase of 5.1% in year one.  Workers would receive no increase in year two‚ but they would receive the equivalent of R3‚083 per month (R37‚000 minimum) as a cash payment.  For year three, the increase would be in line with CPI.  “In order to buy the deal workers must be willing to drop all other demands in exchange for R10‚000,” said the union.  Option two of South 32’s proposal was apparently no increase on the actual salary for the next 3 years‚ but workers would receive a once off minimum cash payout of R100‚000.  In order to buy the deal workers must be willing to drop all other demands in exchange for R10‚000.

• Read this report in full at TimesLive

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