BL Premium reports that the indefinite wage strike by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) in the metals and engineering sector has cost workers R100m in lost wages, employers said on Monday.

Numsa downed tools last week and embarked on a strike in support of its demands for above-inflation wage increases. After Numsa kicked off its industrial action last week, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), the sector’s largest employer body that represents 18 organisations employing 170,000 workers, struck a conciliatory tone. The association advised that a meeting would be held with Numsa's leadership with a view to reaching a wage deal. On Monday, Seifsa CEO Lucio Trentini said: “We are waiting for official feedback (on a revised offer). We understand that collating of inputs from various regions and branches took place across the country over the weekend and we now wait for urgent word.” He added that until such feedback was received, “strike and lock out action continues into today (Monday|), the fifth day of industrial action.” Numsa national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the union was “deliberating on the proposal” made by Seifsa. She would not say what the proposal entailed. “We are still receiving feedback from the regions with regards to how they feel about it and whether they accept it or reject it,” she said, adding that the strike, so far, “has been very effective”. Numsa is demanding a one-year, 8% wage increase across the board and consumer price index (CPI) plus 2% for the second and third years of a three-year deal.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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