Dear Judi
I have obtained a diploma in Human Resource Management at M C Sultan Technikon in 1999. In 2000 I decided to be a trade unionist. Then I applied for in-service training in Numsa’s (Durban South Region) and agreed with Mr Ngcobo (Regional Secretary) to go for that training up until today. I am still with Numsa on a voluntary basis until I get employed. My aim was to get exposure in the field of Industrial Relations. I am now known to most of the Numsa organisers and shop stewards in various companies with my contribution in the field. I would like to request for Labour Relations Amendment Act & BCEA of July 2002 and Numsa bag in order to carry documents. I am a reader of Numsa News and support the struggle for HIV/Aids, support socialism, fight against unemployment, fight poverty, fight privatisation and maintain justice in the work place. Sifiso Lindani Ngubane.
Comrade Sifiso Thanks for your letter. Talk to Woody Aroun, the REO, for copies of the Labour Relations Amendment & BCE Acts. As for Numsa bags, the union through its Numsa Investment Company (NIC) is looking at acquiring the service of some company to produce, distritube and sell bags, T-shirts etc. For this and more information please contact NIC’s Tony Kgobe at 011- 783 3579.
Dear Judi
Before Numsa we had our membership cards. But now it’s almost two years since were promised new membership cards. What is going on there at Numsa office? When you phone they’ll tell you that they are busy?
Secondly I have asked almost all shop stewards at Ford for mugs, track-suits and bags. They will tell you that they got the merchandise from the congress. For the past 15 – 20 years as a member of Numsa. I don’t have Anything I can display in my cabinet, just to show I am a member of Numsa. JD Msimango, Rethabile, Pretoria East.
Comrade Msimango I have spoken to your regional office. Cde Khosi Matlala, the regional administrator says you should phone her and she will sort out your membership cards. Phone her on 012-343 3284. Your shop stewards are right – each Numsa congress we give bags and t-shirts to all congress delegates. But Numsa is still trying to sort out the production of bags and t-shirts for anyone that wants to buy. In the meantime, we do have Numsa mugs in the office. Speak to your shop stewards and when one of them next comes to Head Office, ask them to pick up a Numsa mug for you from cde Joshua Silowe. I hope it will look good in your cabinet! As soon as the bags, t-shirt are sorted out, we will advertise in Numsa News. Keep a close watch!
Dear Judi
I am your member, a worker of metal engineering in Germiston. I am also elected shop stewards 2 months ago because of the important role I play. My company is full of oppression and pushed me to make myself Jesus to help the + – 48 workers. This company classes people’s opportunity. I like to read and write and my intention is to do “˜Industrial Relations’ by correspondence. So I lack the money to start after all the rest I will make a plan. The matter about my situation at my company is now high and being intervened by our organiser, maybe a dispute can be lodged. My company forced me to improve my political mind. Please reply to me. Cde Mogano, P.O. box 4525 , Phomolong, Tembisa. Comrade Mogano
Thanks for your letter and well done for wanting to improve yourself. Unfortunately Numsa does not provide money for bursaries for members. But Numsa does provide education for shop stewards around industrial relations issues. Speak to your organiser (Tel: 011 – 825 3515) and ask him when the next shop steward training is. You should also attend your Local Shop Steward council – on Saturday morning at Shop No 1, Ground Floor, Pylon House, Cnr Human and President Street , Germiston. Here you can learn from other shop stewards how they are dealing with problems in their workplaces.
Dear Judi
I work for Tyre Fitting company (Quality Tryes) at Heckett Multiserve, Vanderbijlpark, Iscor. I was registered this year after working for three months. My problem is we have no union, we are being paid according to the management’s wishes. Some of us are working night shift and no night shift allowance is paid. We work 9 hours a day and 45 hours week, getting R8.14 an hour. We were promised an increase which is R8.79 from R8.14 an hour. Even a blind man can see there is no change on our salaries. We work sometimes 24 hours a day on overtime, hours are cut. Please help or give me an advice what to do if things are like this. Anonymous
Dear anonymous
It sounds like you have big problems. It is hard for me say to if you are paid correctly because you do not tell us what work you are doing. Your best bet is to go to your nearest Numsa office. You’ll find them at Office no 39, Executive Centre, corner FW Beyer and Van Rain Street in Vanderbijlpark or phone them on 016- 933 1160.
Dear Judy
I was employed in 1999-02-09, registered in August, the same year. I have a serious problem concerning my contributions at Provident Fund. Please have a look at my statement from provident fund. And the years that I have worked for this factory. The last contribution is 31/07/02 . What is going on? Please send someone or Numsa lawyers to this factrory. Betty Dintwe of Rovic or Sonvic CC.
Dear Betty
Please take all your payslips from the time you were employed at this company to the organiser as proof that you were by then registered as a member of the Provident Fund and paying into it. The company says that they put you on their payroll only on 15/10/01 as reflected in your provident fund statement.
Dear Judi
I was a shop steward at my company called Auto Den. My services were terminated on the 3rd of June 2002 with my two fellow comrades. We went to our organiser to state our dissatisfaction. He then wrote a letter to the Dispute Resolution Council. The employer then phoned him to come and discuss with him what that dispute is all about? He then explained that in terms of the Labour Relations Act, the procedure that he followed was wrong. Firstly, he gave only three days notice without any retrenchment letters. After it was explained to him he promised to offer those letters which he then did. The dispute was then withdrawn because he managed to stop other guys whom he recruited after terminating our services. He promised to reinstate us as soon as he continued with the job on the 5 th of August. But he only recalled the other two guys and the two new workers he stopped he did not recall me. I then went again to my organiser on the 7 th August The organiser then phoned him and the employer phoned him and the employer said the company is no longer his. He said the company is now falling under a certain guy who according to my knowledge is his manager. I would like you to help me in finding out why did he manage to call the two fellow comrades as well as those who were stopped on our behalf if the company is no longer his and also find out whether he is still paying union fees. I am saying this because I don’t think he can stop employees from continuing as Numsa members. As he clearly explained during union introduction that he cannot work with the union. I write this as I feel that I was not treated in a lawful manner. Because the man he claims is the new owner of the other branch is clearly his manager. As I write this letter on the 7 th August my organiser has written another dispute letter regarding this matter and we are still waiting for the outcome. And I am not saying he”˜s not doing anything as he is a hard working and determined organiser. Your help and advice will be highly appreciated. Numsa is entitled to work very hard for its supporters and members. T.J. Mofokeng , Wits East.
Dear Com T.J Mofokeng
Thanks for the letter and your efforts to bring and keep the union inside that factory. Cde Thuso is still handling your dispute, as you correctly said, so I think we should rather not tamper with this process at this stage. As for the union fees issues, Comrade Laurens in our Head Office Membership Dept could not find records of this company in the system. He has asked Cde Thuso to investigate whether or not we still have members after the company expelled you.
Comrades There are too many letters to fit in this Numsa News. For those whose letters are not included in here, I will be writing to your personally to explain how to deal with your problems. Judi