DCSA to make up lost production

EAST LONDON -- DaimlerChrysler South Africa (DCSA) has entered into an agreement with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) to catch up on lost production.

DCSA spokesman Lulama Chakela said the recovery programme had been approved by the workers.

A spokesman for the shop stewards said the workers would work overtime to recover production lost during last month's three-week strike.

This will entail working on Saturdays as well, he added.

The target is to catch up on the lost production by the end of the year.

The backlog is about 3600 vehicles, including C-class Mercedes-Benzes and Colt bakkies.

Chakela said that, in terms of the catch-up plan, the plant would work two extended shifts of nine hours each from Monday to Friday, and two shifts of seven hours on some Saturdays.

"We have received full support for the recovery programme from our workers and are optimistic that, if everything runs according to plan, we will have fully recovered the backlog by the end of this year," said DCSA management board member for manufacturing Günter Butschek.

Auto workers throughout the country embarked on a strike after wage talks deadlocked.

The strike ended after intervention by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration which made fresh wage proposals that were accepted by both the workers and management.

Initially the workers had demanded a 15percent across-the-board increase while the employers had offered seven percent.

The parties finally agreed on a nine percent increase.

DCSA has an agreement with the workers, the Siyaphambile agreement, whereby the two parties commit themselves to smooth production to meet the overseas market contracts. -- DDR