Work grinds to a halt at EC motor vehicle manufacturing plants

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Production at Mercedes Benz South Africa's East London plant has been brought to a stand still as metal workers' union Numsa embarks on a protected strike.

Numsa said it had issued a strike notice last week to the Automobile Manufacturers Employers Association following failed wage talks.

Mercedes Benz SA's Mayur Bhana says they can't say how much volume will be lost, but that the entire production line has been shout down.

"The impact of the strike in terms of production it's a bit early to tell at the moment in terms of volumes that will be lost. Our production line is completely shut down we have got 2500 hourly paid staff that are currently on strike" Bhana said.

Border Kei Chamber of Business CEO Les Holbrook says the strike doesn't only affect automobile manufacturers, but regional equipment manufactures as well.

"The industry is dependent on regional equipment manufacturers so it's not just Mercedez Benz or Volkswagen or the particular companies that are producing motorcars but it is the industry that supplies them and provides their needs, we believe it will effect the economy in a very big way" Holbrook said.

Volkswagen South Africa Communications Chief Matt Gennrich says the majority of workers at the manufacturer's Uitenhage plant have heeded the call to strike, and production has ground to a halt.

His General Motors South Africa counterpart in Port Elizabeth, Denise van Huyssteen reported a similar situation at the Kempston Road plant.

She says there is no production and the 20% of workers who did pitch for duty, are being utilised for after sales service.