Car workers rule out sympathy strike

GRAHAMSTOWN -- Numsa motor industry workers yesterday said they would not be engaging in a solidarity strike in support of their counterparts in the tyre industry, despite calls for national solidarity.

About 5 000 tyre industry workers have entered their second week of strikes for a 10 percent wage increase after rejecting a 7,5 percent increase previously offered by employers.

A Numsa shopsteward at DaimlerChrysler in East London, Sebenzile Mzini, said he was not aware of a solidarity strike by motor workers.

Mzini said: "We have not yet received communication from our national office about a solidarity strike with the auto industry workers."

He did however say that the issue might be discussed at today's national shopstewards' meeting in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Continental Tyres spokesperson Piet Swart said his company had already lost two-thirds of its production.

"There is also the threat of losing all the export contracts if the strike continues next week."

He said it was difficult to say when the strike would be resolved but "the sooner the better".

He said hiring casual or scab labour was difficult because tyre manufacture was a skilled job that required lots of training.

Firestone spokesperson Hendrik Eckard said on Friday they would be meeting with Numsa for further negotiations on wages.

Eckard said: "The duration of the strike depends on Numsa. We are still awaiting a response from them on a proposal of 7,5 percent we made on Friday last week."

He said the strike was badly affecting production. -- ECN