Embattled tyre and rubber industry concludes historic agreement

NUMSA, August 20, 2007

Embattled tyre and rubber industry has concluded a momentous agreement ending a protracted four-week old strike by 6 000 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa).

Today (Monday) and the following day thousands of striking workers in six plants in Port Elizabeth, Durban, Ladysmith and Brits are expected to report for work as the final settlement will be concluded after the weekend report- back meetings.

The three- year agreement to be ratified after report back meetings have been held include an across- the- board increase of 8% and 7, 5% for the second and third year increases.

Other main areas of in-principle agreement also related to skills-based development grading, five months maternity leave, annual leave of 15 working days  and 10,5% increase in employers’ contribution on provident fund.

Port Elizabeth-based Goodyear tyre manufacturer has also agreed to absorb about 100 contract workers into its permanent staff complement, out of the total of 250 employees hired under labour brokerages. And a consolidated process to phase out the remaining 150 labour brokers would be finalized.

At least 6 000 Numsa members in six major tyre manufacturing plants including Goodyear, Continental, Firestone in  Port Elizabeth and Dunlop factory in Durban, Ladysmith and Bridgestone in Brits, North West downed tools in July to demand 10% wage increases.

Numsa demanded among others the scrapping of the labour brokers in the industry.