South African Tyre Employees Returning to Work

Strike action at Apollo, Continental and Goodyear’s factories in South Africa has ended and workers are scheduled to resume work on September 30. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa says the month-long strike, which arose following stalled negotiations with New Tyre Manufacturing Industry Employers' Association, has been resolved following the decision to revise pay structures for tyre industry workers.

The union notes, however, that the strike at two Bridgestone-Firestone facilities has not ended. While workers are also returning to work at these locations, NUMSA says strike activities amongst Bridgestone-Firestone employees have only been temporarily suspended pending the exploration of further avenues to “monitor and decisively deal with that company.”

Irvin Jim, NUMSA secretary general, has described negotiations with Bridgestone-Firestone South Africa as “intransigence in its worst case scenario.” Adopting a less than conciliatory tone towards the tyre maker, Jim stated “we condemn BFSA to the contempt it deserves. We shall explore all avenues including legal avenues, and further primary and secondary strike actions if necessary to confront BFSA for what it is, a ruthless, barbaric and psychopathic exploiter of workers.”