THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa warned on Thursday that it will embark on a programme of “rolling mass action” to protest ongoing job losses in the metal industry that could see 6 000 workers retrenched this month. Numsa president Mthuthuzeli Tom said that 11 industries, including Denel, the Steel Engineering Industry Federation of SA, Firestone Tyre Manufacturers and the motor sector have already put up notices of their impending retrenchments. Tom said job losses in the metal industry have been severe, with 126000 workers retrenched from the engineering sector alone, while a total of 300000 jobs have been shed since 1987. Tom said the mass action will consist of pickets, work stoppages and lunch-hour protests, but will not develop into full-blown strikes for the moment.