The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) condemns Macsteel management for provoking an indefinite strike through hostile retrenchments. Our members have been on strike since Friday after the company forcefully retrenched workers and issued Voluntary Severance Packages, without consulting the union. They imposed termination letters on workers and harassed them forcing them into taking Voluntary Severance Packages (VSP) of a mere R40 000. The VSP was based only on one weeks pay per completed year of service, which is against the norm because workers usually receive three to 4 weeks of gross remuneration for each completed year of continuous service. The entire Section 189 process was a sham, and NUMSA rejects it with the contempt it deserves.
Macsteel adopted an extremely antagonistic attitude to workers who have served the company in good and bad times, and their labour made the bosses’ mega rich, and in return, they paid them starvation wages. Workers at Macsteel are the producers of wealth and they built the wealth of Macsteel’s bosses, and now they are being pushed out of the company through retrenchments. In the capitalist mode of production, markets rise and fall. But it is unjust for companies to protect profits by sacrificing workers, especially when those workers are already paid poverty wages.
NUMSA calls on all its members across the length and breadth of the country to intensify the national strike at Macsteel. This strike is an act of last resort for our members. Withdrawing their labour power is the only weapon they have to defend themselves against this attack from a ruthless employer.
We reject:
- The forced retrenchment of workers
- The insulting severance packages
- The employer’s unilateral criteria for retrenchment, without union consultation
We demand:
- Immediate reinstatement of forcefully retrenched workers
- Fair and improved severance packages
- Transparent retrenchment criteria, negotiated with the union
Unemployment is at crisis levels. These workers may never find work again. Macsteel’s actions are not just cruel, they are economically devastating.
NUMSA calls on all workers to unite and join the strike and intensify the shut down in solidarity with those who have been forcefully retrenched. Even if some among you are not affected today, tomorrow, it might be you. This strike is justifiable and it is a noble cause. All Macsteel workers will benefit if they unite behind these demands. NUMSA members will be picketing outside Macsteel branches as part of the strike.
In my capacity as the General Secretary of NUMSA I have reached out to Macsteel this weekend calling on them to come to the table to negotiate a resolution to the current strike. We will be meeting with them on Monday 25 August at 2pm.
We are approaching these negotiations with the intention of finding a resolution to the strike and we believe that to resolve any dispute or a strike it takes parties to show willingness to move from their positions.
“United we stand divide we fall and injury to one is an injury to all!”
Issued by Irvin Jim
NUMSA General Secretary
For more information, please contact:
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA National Spokesperson
083 376 7725
phakamileh@numsa.org.za
NUMSA Contact Details:
Tel: 011 689 1700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NumsaSocial
Twitter: @Numsa_Media
Website: https://numsa.org.za
PDF DOWNLOAD: NUMSA calls on workers at Macsteel to unite and intensify the strike