Tyremakers Back to Work in South Africa

A decision that resounded as music to the ears of South Africa’s tyre industry was announced on August 17 – the month long strike that brought production at factories belonging several tyre majors to a halt has been resolved. Following a breakthrough in negotiations workers at Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone and Goodyear agreed to return to work on August 21.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) urged all its members to meet at their workplace on August 20 for a report about the wage talks. “Numsa is of the view that it has made progress. It will discuss with its constituencies on Monday whether the current offer on the table does constitute a settlement,” said Numsa regional secretary Irvin Jim. The offer includes an eight per cent across-the-board increase, 8.5 per cent for minimum salary employees, and 7.5 per cent for next year and the year after.

Numsa has also agreed not to go ahead with the previously mooted vehicle manufacturing strike, and has instead reached an agreement with a number of carmakers. Had such a deal not been made approximately 15,000 workers from eight manufacturers’ production sites would have gone out on strike.