The World - News from July 15, 1987

South Africa reinstated an outdated labor agreement to force at least 60,000 striking black metalworkers back to the job, but union lawyers vowed to challenge the move in court, accusing the government of abusing its powers. The union issued a statement calling on its members to return to work after the government made the strike illegal by republishing last year’s wage agreement, which lapsed June 30. The publication of that agreement, which came only a few hours after the strike began, unilaterally reinstated it. The Labor Relations Act bars workers from striking over an issue that is covered in a published wage pact.