Metals firms lift lockout

ALTHOUGH Eastern Cape engineering companies refuse to sign a wage agreement with Numsa, most have lifted a lockout at their factories to avoid further disruption at vehicle manufacturers.

Several companies affiliated to the National Employers Association of South Africa (Neasa) in Nelson Mandela Bay have decided to lift the lockout of employees belonging to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), even though they have refused to give in to a 10% wage increase.

Many are suppliers of components to Eastern Cape vehicle manufacturers, some of which had to stop production because of the strike in the metals and engineering sector last month.

A wage agreement between Numsa and employer body the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) ended the crippling strike last week.

However, Neasa refuses to agree to the wage increase because it says the 3000 small companies it represents cannot afford the high wage deal.

Fischer Profile Engineering alternate director Cherise Bergsman said although no production was yet taking place at the factory, the firm was to lift the lockout from Monday for the return of 49 Numsa-affiliated workers.

Bergsman said the firm decided to lift the lockout to avoid a secondary Numsa strike at vehicle manufacturers, to which the Perserverance company supplies automotive seat slides, window guides and drip rails, inner door frames, steel bumpers and special purpose machines.

"We still do not agree to a 10% wage increase," Bergsman said.

When contacted yesterday, most of the other six firms in the Eastern Cape affiliated to Neasa did not want to comment.

Other than Fischer Profile Engineering, at least one other company's management confirmed that the company had already lifted the lockout last week, but would also not agree to the 10% wage increase.

Neasa chief executive Gerhard Papenfus said according to feedback, about 40% of members were enforcing the lockout.

"About 7.8% [of members enforcing the lockout] are companies in the Eastern Cape. The bulk of the lockouts are taking place in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Neasa is open to talks with all of the parties. We are adamant that the lockout will continue until our demands are considered," Papenfus said.

He said the lockout was a constitutional right, enjoying the same constitutional protection as the right to strike.

"Therefore we will not be fazed by threats from Cosatu and Numsa," Papenfus said.

Numsa regional secretary Phumzile Nodongwe said the six companies based in East London and the Bay that belong to Neasa had about 400 Numsa members working for them.

"We have not mobilised any formal picketing but will look at it next week. We are waiting for the decision on the court interdict," Nodongwe said.

Meanwhile, Volkswagen Group SA (VWSA) managing director David Powels recognised the Uitenhage car manufacturer's top suppliers recently, saying the company needed reliable partners that continuously deliver high quality components.

VWSA was one of the few vehicle manufacturers in the country that managed to continue producing vehicles during the strike last month.

• On Monday, Numsa lodged an urgent application in the Labour Court to declare the lockout by Neasa invalid. The application was yesterday withdrawn, and Numsa was ordered to pay the cost of the application.