Production at Toyota SA's Prospecton plant in Durban is expected to resume on Wednesday after a strike at one of its suppliers was resolved.
The plant was forced to shut down on 17 October after a strike at Toyota Boshoku, an independent supplier of car seats and door linings, stopped supply of these components.
About 480 workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA at Toyota Boshoku in Durban went on strike on 17 October for a R1500 retention bonus.
The dispute began in 2009.
At that time the company decided to give only one category of workers, the artisans, a R1500 retention bonus. Numsa wanted the bonus given to all workers at the factory.
Toyota Boshoku plant manager John Coulson said on Tuesday the company had reached an agreement with the union.
“The plant remained at a ready state during the strike,” he added, “and we are confident that we will return to full production tomorrow,” said
“This means that our deliveries to Toyota SA will resume immediately, enabling them to restart vehicle production on the same day.”
Numsa was not was not immediately available to comment.
Toyota SA spokesman Leo Kok said the carmaker had remained in constant contact with the negotiating parties for the duration of the strike.
“We're confident that we'll be able to return to full production on Wednesday,” he said. - Sapa, Reuters