Numsa still demanding 15% increase

The ongoing national National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) strike in the metal, engineering iron and steel sectors are set to continue with local businesses, such as Steval in Rocky’s Drift, being affected.

According to Mr Jacques Meiring from Bossies Community Justice, protesters took to the company grounds of Steval in Rocky’s Drift last Friday demanding that their workers join in the strike or alternatively stop working.

“We were notified that workers were being intimidated. We went to Steval and Numsa told all the steel workers to take their bags and leave. They also wanted to take one of Steval’s trucks from the building, but were managed to convince them not to after a few minutes of negotiation.”

The protestors then marched towards the R40 where they continued toyi- toying. After a while though the numbers dwindled from about 250 to 50 protestors.

“We have not received any reports of violent disturbances since Friday,” he said.

According to Mr Enoch Nhlapho, Numsa local organiser in the Ehlanzeni district, meetings have since been held on Wednesday and yesterday to gain a middle ground between the employer and the union.

“We will have a meeting on Thursday (yesterday) to continue negotiations to reach a settlement on our initial mandate,” he said.

Numsa’s initial mandate demands that their workers get a 15 per cent increase in wages and 2,5 per cent on their housing allowance.

“The mandate has not changed. We are still striking until our initial demands are met.”

“We also want to facilitate the banning of the labour broker and ensure the non-implementation of the government-funded employment incentive act,” Nhlapho added.

The Numsa Special National Executive Committee (NEC) will also take a position with regards to the mandate today. They will specifically focus on the bargaining team’s feedback and response from employers.

Representatives at Steval could not be reach for comment on the ongoing strike at the time of going to print.