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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is pleased to announce that it has signed an above-inflation increase for all workers’ at ArcelorMittal South Africa. Our members at AMSA have been on strike at all plants nationally since the 11th of May to demand higher wages and improved conditions. 

We met with the executives of the company today to negotiate an end to the strike our members accepted. It is broken down as follows:

§  We have agreed to a 6.5% increase across the board.

§  The increase means that allowances will also increase by 6.5%. This means the acting allowance, housing allowance, retention allowance, compulsory overtime allowance, pension allowance, shift allowance, standby allowance and Proto Team allowance will also increase.

§  Workers will receive an ex-gratia once off cash payment of R5000.

§  We signed a one-year agreement, which comes into effect from the 1st of April 2022, and it expires on 31 March 2023.

§  The increase will be backdated to 1 April and will be payable on the normal pay date for the month of June 2022.

§  Allowances will also be backdated and paid in June.

§  Parties also agree to investigate other incentives for an employee incentive share scheme including ESOP and the KPI bonus/Gainshare.

The employer started by offering zero per cent, and we have moved significantly to achieve this result. As a result, the strike at AMSA is over. This agreement is a victory for all NUMSA members who made the ultimate sacrifice to fight for improved wages and conditions. They did not do this only for themselves, but also, for future generations of workers as well. To achieve an above-inflation increase during the covid-19 pandemic is a major achievement and it would not have been possible without them. We also wish to thank NUMSA officials for working extremely hard to secure this deal on behalf of employees. 

Issued by NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim