CAR manufacturers have agreed to a three-year wage deal with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), kicking off at 10% in the first year, and involving what the union says are considerable improvements in benefits.This, said the union — known for its militancy — was all "without a single bullet being fired".On Sunday, Numsa said that the deal amounted to an effective 35% increase in wages and benefits over three years, for about 60,000 workers. The settlement is being held up by the union as a model for the ongoing talks in the motor retail sector, which is inching towards industrial action.It is the first time since 2007 and only the fifth time in the history of the sector’s collective bargaining process that an agreement has been negotiated successfully without any disruption or work stoppage. In 2014, a three-week strike in the sector dented investor confidence and cost manufacturers an estimated R700m per day.The 2016 deal will see workers receive a 10% increase in th...
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