The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Tuesday warned that its members would strike at South African steel producer Iscor’s (ISC) steel division if the company failed to resolve certain issues before May 5.
This was decided during a meeting between the union and the Metal Engineering Bargaining Council at the weekend.
The Metal Engineering Bargaining Council acts as a mediator and conciliator between unions and employers.
The mediator gave the company until May 5 to address all unresolved issues, stating that failure to do so would result in the issuing of a deadlock certificate for the union to resume the strike.
The union declared a dispute after Iscor failed to address the concerns of the union and meetings failed to yield positive results.
Numsa has accused Iscor of failing to meet its requirements on the following issues:
The back-dating of 6.3 million rand owed to 18,000 workers as a result of changes to grading structures and restructuring;
The outsourcing of security and transport services without an agreement with unions;
The restructuring must not lead to job losses and erosion of wage benefits;
A new strategy for debt re-organisation and consolidation;
Unaffordable and rising medical aid costs; and
The collective wage agreement to be extended to two years.
“We have decided to fight Iscor by endorsing the ultimatum from the mediator and finally mobilising for a massive strike action. The situation is very precarious,” Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said.
He said the strike remained a possibility and justifiable under the current situation.
“We have favourably and reasonably given the company enough time to address the issues. Unfortunately, there is no change of heart and willingness to bargain in a fair manner.”
“If the company management continues with their arrogant and unreasonable attitude, we have no choice but to use the strike action as a tool to fight the company,” Ntuli added.
Iscor officials were unavailable for comment on Tuesday. – I-Net Bridge