SEIFSA TO MEET WITH NUMSA TODAY

"The SEIFSA and Numsa leadership will meet this afternoon under the auspices of the Metal and Engineering Industries' Bargaining Council to discuss the incidences of violence and intimidation that unfolded during this week's strike action and to consider a way forward," says SEIFSA executive director, David Carson.

A possible outcome of today's meeting may be that SEIFSA and all the trade unions currently in dispute meet this weekend to explore available options to bring the current dispute to an end.

UNLAWFUL ACTIONS CONTINUE

As the strike in the metal and engineering industry moves into its fifth day, serious incidences of violence, intimidation and other forms of unlawful behaviour being perpetrated by groups of striking workers continue unabated.

"It is reprehensible that the strikers find it necessary to use these types of intimidatory and illegal tactics to gain support and maintain momentum for their strike and that the union leadership appears to remain silent in its condemnation of this deplorable behaviour," says Carson who issued a strongly worded letter to Numsa's general secretary this morning.

"This deplorable action has now been associated with a death," says Carson.

SEIFSA continues to receive detailed reports from its members of acts of lawlessness, intimidation and physical assault of their workers who have chosen to ignore the call to strike and who have exercised their right to continue to work.

Other incidents include trespassing on private property in search of non-striking workers, malicious damage to company premises and private property, stone throwing, breaking down of company gates and unlawfully blocking access to factory premises.

Statement issued by David Carson, SEIFSA Executive Director and Lucio Trentini, SEIFSA Operations Director, July 8 2011

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