South African automotive industry grinds to a halt as NUMSA pulls out workers

Negotiations relating to new labour contracts have been taking place since May but union and industry have failed to reach a new wage deal. .

South African vehicle production has been halted after the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) union pulled out its members. The South African Press Association (SAPA) reported that workers at BMW, Nissan, Mercedes, Volkswagen (VW), General Motors (GM), Toyota, UD Trucks, and MAN Truck and Bus have now downed tools as the union and industry have failed to reach a new wage deal. Elias Kubeka, NUMSA's national motor sector co-ordinator said in a statement that employers "are only offering 6%, an increase which does no more than make up for what they have lost through inflation, which is currently estimated in the Consumer Price Index [CPI] at 5.9%."