20100816
reuters

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African autoworkers seeking wage increases more than triple the rate of inflation will continue to strike on Monday after talks with employers failed to agree a deal, a union official said on Sunday.

The powerful National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), which represents 31,000 autoworkers, said it would continue to strike until their demands are met.

"The talks proceeded well, but we were unable to agree to a deal that would settle the strike," said Irvin Jim, NUMSA's general secretary said.

The strike began on August 11, with some carmakers forced to shut their plants while at other operations a quarter of the workers reported for duty.

"The strike will continue tomorrow (on Monday). We will continue to strike until our demands are met," Jim said.

The union is demanding a 15 percent wage increase, well above inflation, which stood at 4.2 percent in July.

The union has rejected the employers' offer of a 7 percent increase in the first year and a rise equal to consumer price inflation in the remaining two years.

NUMSA has asked an industry group -- which represents seven companies including Toyota Motor Corp, Ford Motor, Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co -- for a one-year agreement guaranteeing a 15 percent wage rise.