JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Aug. 20) — A four-week strike by unionized South African tire industry workers against four companies ended after the union and manufacturers reached a three-year contract last weekend.
The pact still must be ratified by the union members and includes wage increases of 8 and 7.5 percent in the second and third year of the deal, according to information from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. The union represents more than 6,000 workers at the nation´s six tire factories, operated by Apollo Tyres Ltd., Bridgestone Corp., Continental A.G. and Goodyear.
The workers were expected to return to work Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, the union said.