ALMOST 700 metal workers reportedly boycotted a disciplinary hearing at Samancor’s Ferrometal plant in Witbank on Thursday after rejecting a company appointed arbitrator. The factory workers were charged with misconduct after allegedly participating in an unprotected protest action in support of the Congress of South African Trade Union’s job loss campaign last week. The workers, all members of Cosatu affiliate National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, allegedly picketed right through their lunch hour and into normal work hours without permission of plant management.