Numsa talks break down as nation-wide strike continues

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The National Employers' Association of South Africa says talks with metal workers union Numsa have broken down.

In a statement on Monday, NEASA said negotations to end the strike in the metal and engineering sectors had failed to produce a solution to the current deadlock.

NEASA is the largest employers' organisation in South Africa with 23 000 employer members and also the largest employers' organisation on the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council, representing approximately 3 000 primarily small and medium size businesses.

The parties met on Friday for bilateral talks.

Numsa met the other employers' association, Seifsa on Friday, where the union rejected the employer's increased offer of ten percent in respect of the lowest grade of employees.

More than 220 000 Numsa members country-wide downed tools last Tuesday in support of a 15% wage increase as well as other demands.