South Africa's Powerful Labor Unions Dig in for Tough Wage Negotiations

Contentious public and mining sector wage negotiations in South Africa could lead to more strikes that disrupt business operations and public services, with the potential to spur limited bouts of unrest. The Congress of South African Trade Unions demanded a 10% wage increase for public sector workers for the 2022-23 fiscal year in talks at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on May 4, in addition to housing stipends, a bursary fund for children, relief funds for natural disasters and measures for early access to pension funds. Separately in the mining sector, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said it would launch a strike on May 11 at ArcelorMittal South Africa, the country's largest steel producer, after the firm rejected the union's demands for a 10% wage increase, a housing allowance and an 80% medical aid contribution from the employer. Workers from the Sibanye-Stillwater gold mines,...