The National Union for Metal Workers (Numsa), has negotiated less than 50% of its salary after months of talks to negotiate a 20% salary increase for its members.
The union, which is the largest in South Africa, and which does little more for its members than negotiate new salaries on a regular basis, failed miserably in last month’s negotiations, but nevertheless received far more than what experts described as fair .
With the first year, members will receive a 9% increase, and a 7% for the next two years, which is significantly less than the 20% suggested to members.
However, financial experts point out that the unions can all be shaved under the same comb and can be seen as institutions that promote the economic decline in the country.
The unions provide unreasonable salary increases, greater fringe benefits, but do nothing to promote better productivity and fewer strikes.