The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) strike is continuing indefinitely.
On Monday parts of Springs like Nuffield and New Era were quiet.
There were unconfirmed reports that strikers were marching to Nuffield and were at one stage at Springs Gate.
At the time of going to the press, the police and metro police could not confirm the allegations.
This strike is currently in its third week after the union announced over the weekend that they had rejected the latest offer by employers in the metal and engineering sector.
On the union’s website, www.numsa.org Irvin Jim, Numsa general secretary said the Numsa regions reported that its striking members rejected the employers’ offer, “because the employers want a three-year stability/peace clause with no strike action during this period, while they have refused to compensate workers for their productivity and profit generation over the same next three years”.
Jim said the revised offer made by employers was an insult to the workers.
“Employers went public to suggest that they have given us double digits thereby misleading the public.
“The truth is that the employers want to secure a three-year agreement and they are only offering 10% in the first year. When they finally made an improvement it was an offer of an extra 0,5% meaning the offer of employers currently is 10% for the first year, 9.5% for the second year and 9% for the third year.
“Our members are very clear that if the employers want a three-year agreement, they must meet workers’ demand of double digit increases, which should be on an ascending scale, failing which our members shall settle for nothing less than 10% for the first year, 10 % for the second year and 10% for the third year.”
Jim said the union was ready to end the current strike with a one-year agreement and a 10% wage increase.
“We remain committed to return to serious negotiations on the demands of our members.”
He also said the employers rejected the union’s demand for a housing subsidy/allowance, a demand meant to help their workers who stay in squatter camps.
