Solidarity Union Reaches Deal with South African Tyre Makers

An agreement has been reached between South African trade union Solidarity and the local Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop and Goodyear operations. The union, which represents around 1,000 tyre industry workers in the bargaining council for the New Tyre Manufacturing Industry Association, released a statement on October 1 reporting the deal, which is being implemented retrospectively from July 1, 2010.

“A three-year agreement was negotiated for Solidarity members and according to the agreement, this year’s increase is 9.0 per cent and the wage increase for the following two years will be 7.5 per cent or a percentage equal to the consumer price index, depending on which is higher,” said Solidarity deputy secretary general Gideon du Plessis.

According to Solidarity, an important element influencing the settlement was that employees on the minimum salary scales would move to the maximum scales over a period of three years. “The strike was a matter of principle and employees felt that it was the only and last alternative to rectify salary scales in particular.”

Du Plessis said that Solidarity had bargained with the full mandate of its members and it was able to reach “a fair wage increase agreement in a peaceful manner.” Furthermore, improved overtime pay, weekend pay and standby allowances were negotiated while many other labour issues such as medical aid were referred to another committee.