Most workers in Botshabelo still fail to benefit from the extension of the Engineering Agreement – J Grice
When unions and employers finally reached agreement to extend the Engineering Council's main agreement into former TBVC and homelands in 2002, we welcomed it. Soon after the promulgation of the Main Agreement, all parties to it conducted a road show in August 2002 at Ezakheni (in the old 'KwaZulu').They explained the whole phase-in process that employers must follow. But, Steelkor, a window and door frame manufacturer in Ezakheni decided to implement it in his own way. He claimed that the Bargaining Council had granted him exemption from paying the new rates. However, according to Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council agent, Richard Driver, the employer was only granted exemption for the hours of work.
And from then on, matters got worse
He refused the organiser access to Numsa membership despite an arbitration that ordered him to grant organisational rights. He threatened workers that unless they resigned and joined rival union, Netu, they would all lose their jobs. He further alleged that he had received death threats from the Numsa organiser. All this to try and avoid complying with the extension of the Agreement.
Numsa will continue to put pressure until the employer fully recognises our organisational rights and grants fruits won by Numsa. Meanwhile, Driver is to send his inspector to check on the grades and rates of pay that Steelkor is paying. If they are not complying with the bargaining council rates, then the council will subpoena the employer to arbitration.
Working for R2 an hour
Across the country in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu (formerly Bophutatswana), Numsa regional organiser, Johannes Hlalele, is fighting a losing battle with employers that still believe that workers can survive on R2 per hour! Most employers are just not complying and Numsa is battling to fight them. "Every time we say they must pay, they just say 'we will close down then'." A recent meeting called by the Council for employers and trade unions to meet to discuss the problems failed to materialise after employers refused to attend.
by Mbuso Mchunu and Jenny Grice
Source
Numsa News