MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, declared a dispute against Motus Retail’s unilateral changes to the terms and conditions of employment of the affected employees with the Motor Industry Bargaining Council’s (MIBCO) Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC). The Union also send a letter of demand to Motus Retail to stop its intended implementation of benefit and salary cuts of up to 30% affecting 532 employees. This comes after Motus Retail informed affected MISA members on 14 January of: • Reduced basic salaries. • No entitlement to company vehicles and vehicles to be returned by 31 January 2026. • No entitlement to car-, fuel-, travel- and cell phone allowances. • No entitlement to receive incentives and/or commission. Motus Retail and MISA consultations reached a deadlock. In terms of Section (64) Motus Retail may not implement these unilateral changes, pending the resolution of the dispute. Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, says the Union will approach the Johannesburg High Court with an application to obtain an interim interdict against Motus Retail to prevent the implementation if the dealership group does not adhere to the demand. “MISA’s members did not agree to any of the salary or benefit cuts. They were not given an alternative option. MISA confirmed that Motus Retail cannot unilaterally implement cuts to existing conditions of employment,” says Keyter. This comes after Motus Retail already retrenched 86 employees from 1 January 2026, announcing a restructuring process in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act on 9 October. The Motus Group, a JSE-listed company, reported a mere 1% decline in revenue to R112.60 billion in the year ended 30 June. Its operating profit also dropped slightly to R5.48 billion. The Motus Group contributed its reduced revenue to lower contributions from new vehicle sales of R3.33 billion (6%), primarily in the group’s international operations. “Motus Retail does not operate in a silo but as a division of a very profitable company. To date the Motus Group did not attempt to place a moratorium on the filling of vacancies and continues to advertise positions in other divisions that might have been suitable for those affected within Motus Retail,” says Keyter. MISA is the majority trade union in the retail motor industry representing more than 75 000 members. "MISA will continue to address the reasonableness and fairness of Motus Retail’s decisions and to support affected members and to pursue all lawful avenues to protect their interests during this challenging transition," says Keyter. Issued on behalf of MISA by Sonja Carstens, Manager of MISA’s Media and Communication Department.