DATE: 15 June 2004
Johannesburg
NUMSA PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISCOR REMAIN RECALCITRANT OVER THE ISSUE OF PROPER WAGE INCREASE.
Yesterday, the first round of wage talks between National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and ISCOR steel division failed to yield positive results. The company offered a starvation 4,4% wage increase across the board. The parties will meet again on the 24th June 2004. The union is demanding 8% for the lowest grade workers and 5% for the workers earning above the maximum rates.
Once again, ISCOR has been disingenuous. They failed to honour better wage increases in the midst of intense restructuring and unstrategic merger. It is sad that the company has not changed from their imperious approach to wage issues. The company remains recalcitrant over the wage issue and there was no change of heart to give sufficient increase for workers. It is wrong and naí¯ve for the company to keep wages down because that has not saved jobs. The low pay received by workers has not stemmed the rise of unemployment to over 40%. It will make sense for ISCOR to pay better wages to cushion for the effects of job losses, unemployment, increase in fuel and food prices. Undoubtedly, in the next meeting we are preparing to declare a dispute given the company unpreparedness to meet the wage demand. We think that the company has failed to handle the issue properly. The behaviour of the company in a meeting has been irresponsible.
NUMSA is distressed by the company’s strange attitude to ignore the only wage demand. The company did nothing to address the union issue. We have made our final call to the company to change and review its intransigent stance on our legitimate wage bargaining issue. There was no strategic thinking on the part of the company to resolve the issue without any industrial action.
Their response on the critical wage demand has been repulsive and demonstrated lack of commitment. This stubborn stance will create a crisis situation for the company. We trust and hope that sanity will prevail on the part of the company in the meeting scheduled for the 24th June 2004 and start to reciprocate to the only wage demand. After, the 24th June ,2004 if the company continues with this unreasonable attitude, we have no choice but to use the strike action as a tool to fight the company.
For more information contact Dumisa Ntuli @ 689-1700 or cell 0829737282