DATE: 18 May 2004
Johannesburg
NUMSA PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
400 DISMISSED CAPE GATE WORKERS RE-EMPLOYED AFTER TALKS.
Today, Production returns to normal at Cape Gate , Vanderbiljpark based steel and wire company and 400 workers re-employed after the company dismiss them for embarking on strike. This comes after workers down tools on Friday in protest against the dismissal of two key shopstewards. The two shopstewards were dismissed for allegedly writing an article that contravened company policies.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) strongly believes that the decision to dismiss them adversely affected their rights and source of livelihood. The union successfully negotiated for the re-employment of the dismissed 400 workers. The union negotiated a solution that was in the best interest of the workers and will further pursue outstanding issues with the company. It must be stated that the company inherently fails to address issues of equity and imbalances that exist.
It is in the highest degree that current policies pursued by the company are not inimitable but injudicious to the practices of the legislations in South Africa. The company must now look at best methods to comply with the Employment Equity Act. The current policies remain skewed, inappropriate and discriminatory to the majority of the workforce. We hope that after the strike the situation will change to provide equal dignity to all workers.
For more information contact Dumisa Ntuli @ 689-1700 or cell 0829737282