Unions partially end strike in South Africa

ERJ staff report (DS)

Johannesburg, South Africa -- NUMSA, the South African tyre workers' union has partially ended its strike at South African tyre factories. In particular, the negotiations have increased wages at Apollo Tyres South Africa (ATSA) up to levels more comparable with other local tyre makers. Also, Veyance Technologies will henceforth be included in NUMSA's tyre sector bargaining council.

Workers are therefore ending the strike at three tyre manufacturing companies, Apollo (both in Durban and Ladysmith), Continental, Goodyear and a conveyer belt producing company Veyance Technologies Africa (all in Port Elizabeth). Workers will return tomorrow, Thursday, 30 September 2010.

NUMSA said, "The strike at Bridgestone-Firestone (both in Brits and Port Elizabeth) is NOT ended - it is only temporarily suspended pending exploration of further avenues to monitor and decisively deal with that company." The statement continued, "We condemn BFSA to the contempt it deserves. We shall explore all avenues including legal avenues, and further primary and secondary strike actions if necessary to confront BFSA for what it is, a ruthless, barbaric and psychopathic exploiter of workers."

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Press release from NUMSA (Via Politicsweb in South Africa) Castro Ngobese, spokesman for NUMSA, confirmed to ERJ that this is the official statement.

Website of NUMSA (South Africa)

S.African union ends strike at Continental AG, Goodyear Reuters (South Africa)

NUMSA and the tyre industry reach wage agreement Politicsweb (South Africa)

Numsa strike ends Weekend Post (South Africa)