THOUSANDS of workers in the metal and engineering industry are expected to flock to the Durban CBD for the first day of a protected strike in Durban.
They will be among 220000 other Numsa members embarking on a countrywide strike on Tuesday for a double-digit wage increase.
The national strike is expected to go on for two days, according to the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA), a national employer federation representing the metal and engineering industry.
Reports say SEIFSA announced last week that 23 of its member companies will shut down during the two-day protected strike.
More than 200 000 workers are bidding for higher wages which is 12 per cent versus a 7 per cent to 8 per cent increase in the first year of the agreement and a ban on labour brokers.
Striking workers are expected to march through the Durban CBD from King Dinizulu Park opposite the Durban Christian Centre led by Numsa secretary-general Irvin Jim.
Authorities have warned that traffic through the CBD near Pixley KaSeme (West) Street is likely to be affected from around 10am as marchers make their way to City Hall.
