Netwerk24 reports that steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal SA (AMSA) and trade union Solidarity on Wednesday signed a wage agreement.  

The three-year deal encompasses a 7%-increase in respect of the medical contribution and a 7% increase in wages for employees on the H and I grades, and a 7.5%-increase for employees on the J and K grades, for year 1.  In years 2 and 3, a 7%-increase will apply for all grades and in respect of all allowances.  The settlement comes after the union on 13 July referred a dispute with AMSA to the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) as negotiations had yielded no results after various rounds of negotiations.  According to Marius Croucamp, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for the metal and engineering industry, the wage increase and allowance increase will be backdated to 1 April this year.  The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is still in dispute with the employer and Croucamp commented that:  “If the other trade union secures a better offer, this offer will also apply to our members.”  According to Engineering News, Numsa is demanding an 11% wage hike.

• Read this report by Francois Williams in full in Afrikaans at Netwerk24 (paywall access)
• Read Solidarity’s press statement at Solidarity News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page