Denel trade unions threaten protest over pay rise

Two trade unions have threatened giant arms manufacturer Denel with protest action if employers at the parastatal refuse to agree on a 9.5% pay increase. Dirk Hermann, a spokesperson for the trade union Solidarity, said his organisation and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), would
give Denel seven days to comply with their demands on Tuesday, or face protest action.

The workers are demanding a 9.5% salary increase and are not happy with the appointment of Eugene Martin, a human resources director at Denel. Hermann accused Martin of ignoring all the policies that the unions, the government and the parastatal signed in 1998.

He said a total of 4000 workers could lose their jobs at Denel because Martin had apparently ignored the policies. The trade unions have asked to meet Denel on the matter by next Thursday.

"The unions will proceed with protest action if management do not commit themselves to the agreements that were signed and refuse to look at the grievances of the workers," Hermann said.

Denel could not be reached for comment. - Sapa