National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) members began a strike at steel maker Columbus Stainless on Monday, a Numsa spokesperson reported.
Dumisa Ntuli said most workers were staying away from work, while some were toyi-toying outside the company’s gates in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
Numsa was to hold an urgent meeting with Columbus Steel on Monday, said Ntuli.
”On Friday, we sent a letter to the company asking them to withdraw the unilateral implementation of wage increases. They have up until 5pm on Monday to do so. If they fail to do so, we will apply for a court interdict to make them.” said Ntuli.
Numsa voted to go on strike after the company unilaterally implemented a wage increase of between 4,5% and 16%.
The union has submitted the following demands:
- a 15% wage increase for all workers;
- a two-year wage agreement;
- reduction in the number of skill grades to five, and payment linked to skills;
- a new procurement policy to promote black economic empowerment; and
- the removal of discriminatory clauses in company policies.
”Numsa rejected the company wage increase because it will only benefit few workers on the high grades. The majority of the workers will invariably suffer as a result of the increase,” Ntuli said.
”In the main the strike is about the parochial thinking of the company to unilaterally implement the wage increases without an agreement.”
Columbus Stainless confirmed that it had implemented wage increases averaging eight percent and that this also applied to Numsa members.
”Earlier this month, Solidarity and the Uasa (United Association of SA) unions, representing a significant number of employees in the bargaining unit, accepted the company’s wage offer. In terms of the agreement, employees received merit and bonus payments ranging from 7,4% to 16,3% for July,” the company said.
”We believe that the offer made to all our unionised and non-unionised employees is generous. It is underpinned by an aggressive investment programme at our operation over the next five years, which are confident will improve business performance and job security,” said Dave Martin, chief executive of Columbus Stainless.
The company said it expected no interruption to its productions schedule as it had contingency plans in place. – Sapa