Government must protect workers and businesses during Numsa strike
(Sacci) condemns the criminal actions committed by strikers.
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) condemns the criminal actions committed by strikers against fellow workers and employers that include property damage, physical assault and animal cruelty.
These acts are barbaric and are a clear indication that members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) either are unwilling or unable to control its members.
The reported statement by Numsa that the police should not intervene already is dangerously close to propagating sedition and public disorder.
Their actions call into question Numsa’s commitment to negotiating in good faith.
Sacci calls on the police to enforce the law and to prosecute those guilty of these crimes.
The high economic costs and severe infringement on the rights of South African citizens indicate that government must intervene to avert anarchy.
Sacci believes that introducing compulsory secret strike balloting will have a moderating influence on the otherwise highly volatile industrial relations.
The current strike behaviour further motivates Sacci’s call to review the industrial relations framework, stronger enforcement of discipline during strikes and government intervention in strikes that cause excessive economic costs and instability.
