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The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is preparing to embark on a strike tomorrow (28 May 2020) at Macsteel. We are left with no choice but to resort to this drastic course of action because of the arrogance of the employer. The management of Macsteel has unilaterally reduced salaries of employees by 20% effective this month, and this will continue for at least two months. They are hiding behind the covid-19 pandemic as a justification for this assault on workers and their families. The following Macsteel branches covering the following Business Units will be affected by the strike: Macsteel Coil Processing, Exports, Fluid Control, Roofing, Special Steels, Trading, Tube and Pipe and Macsteel VRN and this is likely to have an impact on their operations nationally.

We attempted to find a resolution to the current dispute. However, the Company was extremely arrogant and had no intension to meaningfully engage with us on these issues. Despite the fact that we followed all necessary processes. We filed a dispute, wrote a letter to the Company regarding the dispute and notice to strike, and called for a meeting to resolve the dispute. Furthermore, they still claim that it is within their rights to unilaterally reduce workers’ salaries and wages without consultation. They also also failed to make an application to the UIF Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) so that those workers who are not essential get support.

Therefore, we are left with no choice but to embark on strike action starting at 7am tomorrow. In response the management has applied for an urgent interdict in an attempt to block the strike. They have the audacity to plead poverty, but they have money to waste going to court, instead of dealing with legitimate issues our members are raising, and engaging with us meaningfully. We reject their attempts to blackmail workers into accepting reduced wages. Our members are not taking this course of action lightly, they are left with no choice because of the stubbornness of the employer. We call on Mike Benfield the Group CEO to engage us and withdraw his unilateralism to cut workers’ salaries. This is not his money, it is workers’ money and he must pay back the money.

Aluta continua!

The struggle continues!

Issued by The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa