Dear Judi

I am a Numsa member, and I pay monthly subscriptions in order to be assisted if I have a problem with the employer.

I am complaining about the case that I have reported to your branch in Pretoria . The union must understand that sometimes we get lost when we come to the issue of dealing with labour issues and about how to draft complaints that can be reasonable. And again we find ourselves in a very bad relationship with the employer after we report the case to the union. This is because the union representatives are not concerned about employee issues. It shows that the employers take advantage of the weakness of the union.

Look attentively at this case, from Denel Aviation (2002). As a sheet metal technician, I applied for a position as Production Development Technician (maximum R160 000 per annum) at Mechem. I had an interview with Mechem, and then they decided to employ me being aware that I don’t have experience at that level but they promised that they will develop me into that position.

Before I decided to clear out of Denel Aviation they phoned me telling me to make it a transfer, because we are the same company.

Easy, I decided to go for a transfer.

In 2003 when I came to start my job, I found that things have changed. They said to me they are going to pay me the same salary that I earned at Denel Aviation; they will adjust my salary after three months.

Remember this is not probation because there was no letter or any verbal say about probation. After three months I approached them twice without any response.

The third time they wrote me a letter that says I didn’t perform. And they claim that I was on probation no matter there was no probation letter.

That is where I decided to consult with the union and also head office of Denel. My meeting with Denel we suggest that the company must adjust my salary to a certain percent looking at the fact that I have been with the company for a year and set-up three months probation.

When head office writes a suggestion letter to the Mechem, they leave out the fact of salary adjustment. On the side of the union, I phoned the union consulting with the lady called Liza.

What I can tell is that we have been in this case with this lady only on the phone and for less than 4 times, we don’t know each other. We did make an appointment but she failed to attend.

After all this consultation with the union and Denel, I had a meeting with the company for the first time since I opened this case on the 2003/04. The worst thing is that there was nobody from the union in that meeting who will represent me.

Even in that meeting there was no sign that shows negotiations, because they were not interested in what I am trying to say or explain. The only thing they told me was about the suggestion letter from Denel. The other things that make me sick are when they told me that I had a bad record from Denel Aviation and I have been running away from Denel Aviation. The manager told me that he was taking chances to employ me in Mechem. He told me that the final solution is to sign probation or the company terminates my services.

That is when I phoned Liza again to tell her what the situation is. She told me to sign the probation because she doesn’t have any option. Without enough assistance I signed the probation. As I said, at this moment I am on probation and it shows that they might be on the mission of dismissing me. I did phone CCMA for advice on this issue; they said probation can only apply at the start of a new position not after they employed the employee. Please I will appreciate it if my complaint is taken into consideration and considering the fact of taking this case further with CCMA. At this moment I am taking this case to CCMA without your help as my representative.

Your union member Benny Makola, Mechem

Comrade Benny

Some questions needs answers for one to be able to get to the bottom of this. This is why I saw it fit to refer you to Cde Chippa Montshiwa, the Regional Legal Officer. But Cde Chippa tells me that you have not phoned him. Please write and give us the update.

Dear Judi

I apply for a Numsa bulletin each time as I am a Numsa member and I am a shop steward. I need to be up to date always.

George Chauke, Box 134 , Seshego, 0742 – Trailer & Bodies, Pietersburg.

Dear Comrade George,

The current issue of Numsa Bulletin has been posted to the above address. My worry though is that whilst it is important to get, read and share information in the bulletin; it is equally defeatist to not attend the shop steward council meetings and share information with members. This not only deprives members access to their constitutional right to run this union but it also limits your understanding of the many broad and complex issues that other shop stewards debate during their council meetings. And please don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean that you don’t attend shop stewards council meeting. The thing is, I don’t like leaving things to chance, because I don’t understand why you aren’t getting Bulletins at your local office.

Dear Judi

It is a great pleasure to have this opportunity of being writing this in script to you. We are a group of four workers from Hardy's Auto Clinic in Danielskuil. We want to join Numsa union, but we don’t have any joining forms. We will be very pleased if you could send us some forms and full details of the union and how does the union works in terms of joining fees, monthly fees etc. We are in the retail motor industry but we don’t know anything about (ourselves). We have plenty of queries but we can’t solve them because we do not have a union. Some of our colleagues are fired unfairly without reasons. That is why we want to join Numsa as Cosatu union. We will write down our grievances as soon as we’ve joined the union.

Dear Comrades

Comrades please phone me at 011 6891700 so I know which union office to refer you to.

Dear Judi

I work at Duncanville Pro-Roof Steel Merchant. We have a problem about our employer. I’m working for the Indians. They don’t care for us but for production. They don’t service the machine if it’s broken down. Our employer is making billions and billions of rand but he does not want to pay us according to our job grade. We were earning R260.00 and R300.00 before deductions per week. This is nothing for the metal workers. As the members of Numsa we had decided to cut the over-time and do normal hours. Then he gave us the work suit and safety shoes after he increased our salary from R300.00 and R380.00 but others are still earning R250.00. He says that’s all he has for us.

We call our organiser to the negotiation of our job grade then we’ll tell him that our employer had threatened us by saying he will close two departments of pipe and gate and fence. And say if we are not covered we can go.

Our organiser responded: “I was waiting for inspectors and a member of the bargaining council". The retrenchment date has been postponed to June 18, 2004 and they have no rights to close two department without rules. So sis Judi help us. They deduct our provident fund every week but if we go to check, our names are not there. In December we don’t get bonus only leave amount.

D. M Mavuso Duncanville.

Dear Comrade Mavuso

The Main Agreement in your sector stipulates that the minimum hourly wage rate in this sector is R13.78 and this is the wage rate for the period 13 October 2003 to 30 June 2004 . If your employer cannot pay this, he must apply to the Metal Industries Bargaining Council for exemption from paying this.

Please go to your nearest Numsa office to have all your problems sorted out:

Numsa, 2nd Floor, Cresco Bldg, 12 Beaconsfield Avenue , Vereeniging tel: 016-455 5719

Or

NUMSA, Office No 3 Executive Centre, Corner FW Beyer and van Rain St , Vanderbijlpark tel: 016-933 1160/4

OR if the local office is not helping you, contact the regional office with your complaints -

Numsa, Office 1002 Santrust Bldg, Erf 35 FW Beyers Street, Vanderbijlpark Tel: 016-981 0225. If you are still not helped, come back to me.