Initiating Negotiatons for the Amendment of an existing Agreement in terms of Clause 10 and Annexure E of the MEIBC Constitution

 25 March 2024 

Mr. Sicelo Nduna 

General Secretary 

MEIBC 

Facsimile: 086 636 8690 

Email: sicelon@meibc.co.za 

Dear Mr Nduna 

INITIATING NEGOTIATONS FOR THE AMENDMENT OF AN EXISTING AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF CLAUSE 10 AND ANNEXURE E OF THE MEIBC CONSTITUTION: CONSOLIDATED MAIN AGREEMENT 

SEIFSA, acting in accordance with the mandate of the member Associations contained in the attached schedule, request you, in accordance with Clause 10 and Annexure E (2) of the MEIBC Constitution to convene a negotiating meeting at your earliest convenience. 

Insofar as this year’s round of negotiations is concerned, we know that things will not be easy and the challenges facing us are many. South Africa’s economic outlook doesn’t look good and there is little business confidence. The notion of job retention and/ or job creation on the back of an alarming high unemployment rate fuelled by ongoing retrenchments and business closures, has become elusive. 

Persistent load-shedding, the worst in more than a decade, shows no signs of ending. Spiking unemployment, widespread business failures and huge job losses point to negotiations this year taking place against a difficult economic landscape. 

It would be fair to say that only if labour and business across the board find a way of working together do we stand a chance of turning things around. It’s also fair to say that the relationship between supporters and detractors of gazetted collective agreements, like the Main Agreement, are strained. Litigation continuous and in all likelihood may well continue into the future. 

Trust amongst all stakeholders must be rebuilt and the national discourse must find a way of transcending beyond purely wages and terms and conditions of employment. 

 Once negotiations over wages and conditions of employment have been settled, the focus must urgently shift to more important priority interventions, where labour and business collectively can play a part in tackling the deep underlying failures preventing meaningful growth in SA and our sector. 

In light of the above the Associations federated to SEIFSA propose concluding an agreement which envisages affording industry an opportunity to re-set in an enabling environment underpinned by certainty, stability and industrial peace. 

Industry negotiations over the years have created a set of comprehensive and favourable employment conditions for employees that are essentially unmatched across most bargaining councils. Hence, we do not wish to pursue any further amendments and/ or adjustments to benefits currently contained in the Main Agreement nor do we propose down varying existing terms and condition of employment. Equally important is our position on Section 37 of the Main Agreement i.e., that it must be retained. 

Accordingly, we formally give notice that our approach to this year’s round of negotiations will be structured around four (4) broad principles or themes, namely: 

  • a long-term agreement; 
  • wages; 
  • gazettal and extension; and 
  • exemptions incorporating special phase-in dispensation. 

As there is a nexus or connectivity between these four themes or business drivers, consensus must be reached on each of the drivers before an agreement can be considered. 

We also propose that all outstanding issues be dealt with in-line with the provision as set-out in paragraph 6 of the signed-off Process Agreement and that this process commence immediately once a Settlement Agreement has been concluded. 

In closing, it is our hope that the employer and trade union parties in the MEIBC will make every effort to successfully conclude the industry negotiations on or before the expiry of the current agreement on 30 June 2024. 

We ask that you please bring the views of our member Associations, as articulated herein, to the attention of the party trade unions and the other employer organizations on the Council. 

Yours Sincerely 

Lucio Trentini 

Chief Executive Officer 

Cc: Elias Monage, SEIFSA President 

Association Chairpersons 

NEASA, CEO, SAEFA, (SA) UEO, FEOSA – by email 

NUMSA; NUM, Solidarity; UASA – The Union; MEWUSA and SAEWA - by email 

________________________________________________________________________________________

The List of Registered Employer Organizations’ Federated to SEIFSA and Party to the MEIBC 

Association of Electrical Cable Manufacturers of South Africa 

Cape Engineers’ and Founders’ Association 

Constructional Engineering Association (South Africa) 

Electrical Engineering and Allied Industries’ Association 

Electrical Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa 

Gate and Fence Association 

Hand Tool Manufacturers’ Association 

Kwa-Zulu Natal Engineering Industries’ Association 

Iron and Steel Producers’ Association of South Africa 

Lift Engineering Association of South Africa 

Light Engineering Industries’ Association of South Africa 

Non-Ferrous Metal Industries’ Association of South Africa 

Eastern Cape Engineering and Allied Industries Association 

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Manufacturers’ and Suppliers’ Association 

S.A. Electro-Plating Industries’ Association 

S.A. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors’ Association 

S.A. Pump Manufacturers’ Association 

S.A. Valve and Actuator Manufacturers’ Association 


Industry Wage Negotiations Kick-off

INDUSTRY WAGE NEGOTIATIONS KICK-OFF

Negotiations this year will take place against a very difficult economic background. The sector is still in the throes of deep distress. A fragile economy, spiking unemployment, widespread business failures and huge job losses will no doubt test our mettle.

On a positive note, talks-about-talks are already well underway and to date all the parties have signed-off on a process or relationship agreement and a declaration to negotiate in good faith. A pre-bargaining conference was held on 7 February and a negotiating timetable has been agreed. Whilst all this on the surface may not seem to amount to much, it is all unprecedented and hopefully a sign that the difficulties we find ourselves in are shared by our union counterparts.

In terms of the timetable the following has been agreed:

Month Process Comments
7th February Pre-Bargaining Conference Understanding Industry Issues and Challenges
25th March

 

Submission and Exchanging of Demands and Triggering

Annexure E of the Council Constitution

Finalize respective parties demands, exchange of demands and triggering

Annexure E

10th April Commencement

of Negotiations

Commencement of   negotiations
24th April Negotiations Negotiations
8th May Negotiations Sign-off

You will observe we have set a tight time-line with the aim of settling early, within mandate and with minimal disruption. We understand how difficult this will be but this time round, parties are faced with a set of daunting circumstances that simply cannot be ignored. Manufacturing performance is anything but encouraging, persistently high interest rates, electricity outages, failing logistics and weak demand have all lead to a sector that is under siege.

Mandating, tactics and strategy will play a key role in delivering a sound agreement. We ask that member companies play their part in supporting their respective Associations who play an important role in formulating a consolidated mandate that allows the Main Agreement Negotiating Team to develop the tactics and strategy.

At the outset I extend a note of immense gratitude to all members of the 2024 Main Agreement Negotiating Team who during the process, will sacrifice an inordinate amount of time, effort and energy – over and above their day-to-day jobs – supporting the Office and me in ensuring that we meet the goals we have set.

This will be a difficult round but, in the end, we will succeed if we just stay the course.

Lucio Trentini

Chief Executive