South African Tyre Industry Experiences Factory Strikes

Strike action based on the demands for a minimum wage of 20 rand per hour for motor industry workers have begun today in South Africa, affecting plants belonging to Dunlop, Bridgestone and Continental, news sources have reported. Strikers are also demanding double-digit wage increases in the sector, with garage and component workers joining the action on Wednesday, 1 September.

National Union of Metalworkers of SA spokesman Castro Ngobese said a list of demands had been presented to the Fuel Retailers Association and the Retail Motor Industry, who have called a meeting with Numsa leaders.

Business Day’s report also explains that the strike is affecting BMW production at the company’s Rosslyn plant, with a loss of approximately 500 units predicted due to the supply problems created by the strike. “We had an extremely tight production schedule, with the plant scheduled to run at full production until the end of the year to make up these lost units … and this further interruption now makes it impossible to meet our annual commitment,” BMW spokesman Guy Kilfoil told Business Day.