Dear Numsa News
As local office-bearers we attempt to be united at our locals. Collectively we will try, but we request everyone’s involvement.
In whatever we do today, and in all our activities, we have a burden on our shoulders to not only defend this proud legacy, but to pursue it to its logical conclusion.
We must present this legacy to members.
None of us own the union. This union belongs to the members, in factories and workshops, in big and small companies, who have asked us to be the custodians of this union.
We are elected to serve at the behest of workers, the owners of the union.
They have elected us to do one thing, to serve them to the best of our ability. Instead, some sow division and peddle lies over issues of leadership and other matters.
Sometimes one among us seeks to achieve power and position on the basis of lies.
When we do this, we are digging our own grave and, in the long term, destroying the proud history of the union.
When we fight within the union, the bosses have a field day to maximise their profits. Metalworkers must unite to defend our democratic gains. United we stand and divided we fall.
Jacob Mthimunye is Numsa local chairperson at Joburg Central
Dear Numsa News
Morning after morning we get up from our beds to go and work for the capitalist class. Most of our time we spend in front of the cold machinery of these brutal employers.
Our children are our main priority and therefore we must take all the shouting, victimisation and brutal insults from these “paper-coloured” cowards.
The cowards want us, the working class, to fear them and say yes to anything they say to us or want us to do. Comrades, let us unite and stand firm against these exploitations.
We should also stand firm against enemies within our organisation the “blue-eyed boys and girls” who think the colour of their skin will also change.
These same “blue-eyed boys and girls” are quick to use us when things go badly with their “paper-coloured” friends! Comrades let 2012 be the year the capitalist class will be reminded that it is no longer the 1960s and ‘70s!
Lucien Windwaai – Bel-Essex Engineering, shop steward, PE Local.
Dear Numsa News
I, for one, feel that the money in the surplus fund should be deposited in our bank accounts. I think many comrades share this view.
This money has come at the right time: after the economic meltdown.
And as one remembers, once again most of the businesses were bailed out as they could not cope financially and some companies closed down.
Those that did not close down and were not bailed out are still struggling to cope. And if companies struggled during that period, and even now, how can we as ordinary workers with our mediocre salaries cope? Hence the surplus fund comes to the fore.
Shortly after the capitalists announced that they are facing a meltdown in our economy (a period which will always be there as long as capitalism is seen as the “only economic system”) I had a strong feeling that workers have to be bailed out as well.
And the only way that could be done is to give each worker who qualifies a certain percentage from their provident fund. Nothing is sacrosanct in this world, especially here in South Africa.
I tried to discuss my idea of bailing out the workers with some of the comrades, but I saw that I was just hallucinating. Each one told me that no-one has access to the provident fund until retirement.
But they forget that there is always a first time in life. No-one ever thought that companies would have to be bailed out one day.
Under capitalism anything is possible. If companies were bailed out, workers too MUST be bailed out!
I could not convince anyone regarding the bailing out of workers using their provident or pension fund, so I want to propose that the surplus fund money is used to bail out workers and deposited in our accounts.
Aluta continua!
Sipho Buthelezi, Vosloorus
Numsa’s response:
Dear Sipho,
You may be aware that there are two funds in the industry – the metalworkers’ provident fund (MIPF) and the engineering industry pension fund (EIPF).
Most workers were members of the pension fund until around 1993 when they migrated to the provident fund.
They are former members of the EIPF and are now members of the MIPF.
The Act allows former members to draw cash, whereas current members cannot.
If you are a former member of any scheme you may draw cash, but if you are a current member then your money will be added into the fund as a credit. (More information on page one of this issue).
Dear Numsa News
As shop stewards we should all be treated fairly and equally. No leader should think he or she is higher and brighter and cleverer than others.
A stable environment should be created so that shop stewards feel free to debate and discuss the challenges the union is facing.
Most of the time the older shop stewards in the union think they own their different local offices.
They do not want to be shown or corrected by anyone – they say they know it all! They are vocal in shop steward council meetings.
They also know that when it is time to travel to Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg or Pretoria that their names will be the first ones on the list because they are the ones with the biggest mouths.
We should observe constructive criticism: we are sometimes killing our newly elected shop stewards council meetings.
Sometimes they resign as shop stewards because of witnessing the favorable treatment of a few big-mouth shop stewards, local office bearers or officials within the structure.
This union belongs to thousands of workers outside and it is not a quick gravy train for self-enrichment! This should be the year that we increase our membership and be stronger and more united than ever!
Lucien Windwaai
Dear Numsa News
It has been 17 years since we attained political freedom in this country, but the experiences of the past have made failures of South African business leaders – managers, both black and whites.
Whenever it comes to improving the conditions of workers, managers start comparing current working conditions with those that existed during apartheid.
They resist any change that will mean an improvement in working conditions.
Strikes
This is why we have so many strikes in our country. Let’s think about an employee who earns R1 500, per month.
If you gave an increase to that employee so that they can support their family, what percentage would you give? An increase of 100% will increase their salary to R3 000.
This is still not enough, but employers refuse to give even a 10% increase. Maybe we need to talk about salary adjustments for some categories of employee.
When you talk about increases, even the media start saying it’s an unreasonable demand without digging for the facts. If we don’t look at this matter seriously the economy of the country will plunge into mud.
Minimum wage
The Department of Labour needs to relook at wage determinations. These should change from stating the minimum wage because employers just stick to that.
Instead of the minimum the determinations must be specific because the majority of employers do not pay above the minimum.
Thulani S Xulu
Source
Numsa News No 1, April 2012