Relay Race For SA Labor Demands

SOUTH AFRICA - Report 01 Jul 2014 by Iraj Abedian

Barely a week after the end of a prolonged (five-month) industrial action in the platinum industry, a new strike, this time in the metals industry, has just gotten underway. More than 200,000 workers affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) embarked today on an “indefinite” strike. Against the backdrop of a high unemployment rate (see Graph 1), the striking workers’ demands include a 12% salary increase based on a one-year bargaining agreement. On the other hand, employers say they are only able to offer an increase of up to 8% in the current year and infla...

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