Metal Industry strike

[Martinco]

Hey Guys,

It seems as though the whole of SA has come to a standstill with the metal workers strike.
I cannot get raw material, I cannot deliver the orders that I have on hand because customers have asked me not to deliver. I have an overseas shipment that must go out but cannot deliver to my agent.
This is a total f***up !
My people are all here but I cannot utilize them 100% but still have to pay them 100% !

The joys of having your own business !

[IanF]

Martin
That is k@k. I can't offer a solution. Just a semi-joke.

The best line I've heard lately was from a shop foreman when this
young black was being laid off.

The youngster said to the shop foreman: "You're firing me because I'm black!"

The boss said, "No, we hired you because you were black.

“We're firing you because you are useless!"

[Martinco]

We have been advised by our steel supplier down the road to hide all our cars and lock the gates and front door of the factory so that it appears as though there is nobody home.
According to them there are about a zillion strikers coming towards our industrial area and chasing all working metal workers home.
And obviously in the process doing a "little damage" to property. Wish I could !

[adrianh]

Eish but we gotta theee democracy..She work like theeees, you agree with us or we break your legs and birn your car!

[murdock]

the new rainbow nation...lets hope they get their 13 % increase.

[Dave A]

I wonder for how many companies that would be the final straw that closes their doors for good.

Maybe we should run a competition - best prediction wins.

Final settlement 7,5% minimum pay increase and 2900 jobs lost in the engineering sector.

[IanF]

My sweep entry 8.75% first year cpi +1% second year. Labour brokers stay. Our trade balance with China worsens. 5000 jobs lost.

I was told that it is cheaper to get coffee made and packaged in the UK and import it,than it is to make it here, that is frightening!

[johnwarner75]

Well for the mean time let’s hope they union’s compromise on wages. SA needs to up productivity first before wages increase

[Martinco]

I agree with Ian 8.5% to 8.6% plus some for next year.

[IanF]

What I can't understand is the anger. Is it from rabble rousing or is there a genuine anger against employers and business in general?
Either way it is scary and wrong!

[Dave A]

From what I've seen, the adverserial relationship between "workers" and "management" in unionised workplaces is something to behold. Definitely a far greater problem than in non-unionised workplaces.

Imo it is one of indicators that the LRA is fundamentally flawed. After all, one of the objects of the LRA is supposed to be to improve employer/employee relations, and quite patently it hasn't suceeded. Made things far worse, I reckon.

Another indicator is what the LRA has done to the SA textile industry.

[Justloadit]

Well I need to expand, but there is no increase in staff in this plan. I am looking at installing automatic machines, even if they only work 5 days a month. It is far cheaper this way, and I can run anytime I need the finished product. So who loses out?

I will be happier, get more production at lower cost, and do not have to have this sword of Damocles over my head, nor the 5 ton lead ball hanging from my neck called "STAFF". The interesting thing is that to do this will cost me about R100K, employing another 6 to 8 staff members, will cost me R30K to R40K a month for the first year, and who knows what in the future and all the sick leave and HR crap that goes with it. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

[adrianh]

My brother experienced a good one in Namibia. One year at the bank when it came time for increases the union demanded 8% or something. The bank said, ok, no problem. The union rep came back and said that it is not good enough, the bank can't just agree to their demands, they must first negotiate. Goes to show how union leadership need to create adveserial positions to keep themselves in power.

[tec0]

You are being played. The scenario is electricity provider needs to do maintenance of a few power stations. For that they need the steel companies to stop there manufacturing for a little while “perhaps do some maintenance themselves.

Most of the steel plans know that there contracts have been met for the most part and because they get some “help money” they close down full knowing that strikes are on their way. So the strike hit the metal market goes for a ball of crap and this will aid the steel manufacturers the ability to play mind games with the workers.

The workers see that there money hits rock bottom because there basic sucks and they don’t get any overtime and or allowance. So now when it comes to negotiations there workers are in a bad way and will take basically any offer that is on the table.

Contracts get renewed, the steel manufacturer gets cheap labour for another year and magically the steel industry picks up speed again. Our electricity provider is happy, our steel manufacturer bosses are happy and the small suppliers along with the workers got a nice f-you.

the end...

Sadly the unions are too stupid to realise this…

That said it is clever play…

[IanF]

WOW Now that is one big conspiracy.
Lets see Eskom need to do maintenance, so they speak to the steel mills and the unions and organise a strike.
One thing is how can they do this maintenance if the the engineering sector is on strike?
I think you are reading to much into this.