21 Aug 2007
Johannesburg, South Africa -Â Unionised South African tyre industry workers have ended a four-week-old strike against the local subsidiaries of Apollo Tyres Ltd., Bridgestone Corp., Continental AG and Goodyear after reaching a new three-year contract agreement over the weekend.
The new agreement, which still must be ratified by the members, include wage increases of 8 and 7.5 percent in the second and third year of the pact, according to information from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), which represents more than 6000 workers at the nation's six tyre factories.
Workers were expected to return to work Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, Numsa said.
Other main areas covered in the agreement related to skills-based development grading, five months maternity leave, annual leave of 15 working days and 10.5-percent increase in employers' contribution to a provident fund.
The workers first went on strike July 22, seeking a 10-percent rise in wages among other things.
From Tire Business (A Crain publication)
Press release from NUMSA
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