NUMSA rejects automotive industry wage offer, strike could follow
Workers in the car manufacturing sector could soon be on strike
Image: Supplied
Workers in the car manufacturing sector could soon go on strike after the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) rejected the employers’ wage offer, calling it insufficient to cover rising living costs.
At a press briefing on Friday, the union said talks with the Automotive Industry employers had reached a deadlock, adding that it has requested a certificate of non-resolution from the National Bargaining Forum, a formal step that allows members to decide whether to take industrial action.
"The employers tabled an offer this past weekend of 6.5%, 5% and 5%. The union was left with no option but to reject this offer for a couple of reasons which is a position we submitted to the CEO’s of the 7 OEMs on Tuesday the 28th of October 2025,"General Secretary Irvin Jim said.
"We explained to the CEOs of the Automotive Industry that it is not for the first time that the industry has experienced a low or high CPI. In both scenarios it has always been incumbent on both parties not to act selfishly but to act in ways that take care of workers’ concrete realities in negotiating an agreement for wages and benefits for workers for a 3 year period".
The union added that employers’ reliance on the current CPI to determine wages was unfair to workers.
"We do not agree that employers must be allowed to adopt a completely unfair position against workers who are the producers of wealth, and attempt to use the current CPI as the determining and dictating factor on what becomes the percentage increases for workers in the 3-year agreement".
NUMSA also stressed the rising cost of living as a key factor in rejecting the offer.
"It is a fact that 57% of workers’ wages go to transport and electricity. They must engage with the cost of the basket of food and this year Eskom was granted a 12% increase by NERSA. The difference between CPI and the electricity increase is 9% which is a cost which affects workers’ standard of living," the union said.
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