Workers at Denel are to conduct daily protests at the arms manufacturer’s Pretoria offices against a suspected drive to remove black managers from their positions.
Things had gone from bad to worse since the appointment of Shaun Liebenberg as Denel chief executive officer, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa said on Tuesday.
Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said about 1 200 union members in Denel’s employ would hold lunchtime demonstrations every day to highlight their concerns.
”We are objecting against the removal and intentions to demote affirmative action appointees by the current general managers and group directors,” Ntuli said in a statement.
”Since the appointment of the current CEO by the Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin things have gone from bad to worse.”
Denel said it was not aware of any manager being demoted and that it remained committed to constructive engagement with organised labour.
”Denel is not aware of any manager of any grouping being demoted,” the company said in a statement.
”The new CEO committed himself to positive interaction with all stakeholders (including labour), as he re-affirmed in a media release last week: ‘to bring stability into the organisation and ensure clear direction for all stakeholders’.”
Ntuli said one black manager had so far been removed and another four were being targeted.
”Further, the chairperson of the board resigned recently because of unending tensions between black managers and white directors.”
Erwin announced in April that Liebenberg would replace Victor Moche as the near-bankrupt arms manufacturer’s chief executive.
Ntuli said there was no effective strategy to deal with problems at Denel, saying Numsa had been marginalised and undermined in the decision making process.
”We want the company to quit thinking short-term and stop the removal of black managers,” Ntuli said.
”Numsa believes that since the employment of the new CEO, the company has begun a process of excluding unions in the restructuring process and directors streamlining divisions to the direct detriment of black managers.
”All these elements undermine the unions in engaging meaningfully and result in negative performance of the company.”
He said the feeling from workers was there had been a shift towards ”paternal authoritarianism” at the company.
”They strongly feel that it is a race factor,” Ntuli said. – Sapa