The situation at BMW (SA), one of the auto plants in Rosslyn, north of Pretoria has taken an ugly turn. The problem started some months ago when management wanted to introduce a new shift pattern. Despite Numsa’s opposition to this move, management is hell-bent on unilaterally implementing these changes which will alter the terms and conditions of workers.
Management is determined to operate with standard nine-hour shifts which also have elements of reducing the hours of work from 40 to 36 hours per week in certain instances, but increasing hours from 40 to 45 hour in others.
This new model, besides introducing Saturday as an ordinary working day and being paid as a normal working day, also adversely affects workers’ social benefits such as contributions to medical aid, UIF, provident fund, bonuses, shift allowance and others. In essence, changing their hours of work reduces workers’ social benefits.
Management wanted to covertly impose massive overtime, to run parallel with the shift pattern, without properly engaging with Numsa on the matter. This despite numerous pleas and calls by Numsa shop stewards, for management to follow the right communication channels.
The Union has declared a dispute on unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment. Management has threatened workers with warnings and retrenchments, should they not adhere to their plans. These threats have been met with equal resilience by workers who have stood behind the union’s decision to defend their hard-won rights.
This syndrome seems to be spreading across all German car manufacturers. Recently Daimler Chrysler AG in Germany extended working hours while cutting down workers’ benefits in the process. Volkswagen AG cut workers’ wages by 2.7% and General Motors AG has threatened to close should workers not accede to similar initiatives.
It is about time trade unions tilted the balance of power in favour of workers and vehemently opposed this trans-national offensive, which is often accompanied by threats of relocating production to countries with cheaper labour.