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Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in Ekurhuleni are on strike at Rheinmettal Denel Munitions plant in Boksburg. At the heart of the dispute is that our members want medical aid to be optional because they say it is too costly. The majority of our members earn R8400 and the amount R1300 which is deducted from their salary for the medical aid is too much and it makes it difficult for them to support their families. The contributions are also not clear as we believe that employees are the only ones contributing in the scheme, because it is unclear what the contribution of the employer is.  Workers are demanding that membership to the medical aid must become optional.

Yesterday we issued a statement where we stated that members want to be able to choose their medical aid but that is not the case which is why we are clarifying the demands. Our members are on strike because they want to be able to opt out of the medical aid.

We apologize for any misunderstanding which may have been caused.

Issued by Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa in Ekurhuleni