Numsa press statement on the ongoing Engineering National Industry Strike

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) wishes to salute metalworkers who are members of Numsa for braving No Work No Pay since the start of the metal, engineering iron and steel industry strike. The Numsa National Office Bearers also wish to express appreciation for the unity and cohesion displayed by striking Numsa members in the metal, engineering iron and steel industry.

The Numsa bargaining team had been engaged in further negotiations with Seifsa through the mediated efforts of the Department of Labour with latest talks which took place on Monday evening 7^th July 2014. In this regard we are processing the following consultative and mandating process in the organisation;

1. Numsa Special National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for 15h00 on 8^th July 2014 - This NEC is to receive feedback from the DOL facilitated negotiations to enable all 9 Numsa regions to convene regional feedback and mandating meetings with Numsa members.

2. Numsa Regional feedback and mandating meetings on 9 July 2014 - These regional meetings are intended to bring striking Numsa members on board with respect to the latest Seifsa offers and to obtain mandates with respect to what should constitute a resolution of the industry strike.

3. A Special Numsa NEC Teleconference shall be convened at 18h00 on 9^th July 2014 to receive regional feedback and mandates on the way forward.

As we are engaged in an indefinite national strike, we call on Numsa members participating in the national strike to exercise maximum discipline and not to involve themselves in violent acts of any kind.

Numsa has noted the pop star mentality displayed by Papenfus of NEASA making a mockery of the hardship endured by metalworkers over the past 20 years. Papenfus must accept that Numsa shall never settle for an Apartheid two tier labour market system. Not now and not in the future. Whereas Papenfus continues to enjoy the fruits of Apartheid in his leafy suburb, Numsa members continue to languish in township shacks and paying for expensive transport far away from where they stay with poverty wages paid by Papenfus and company.

Further updates on the negotiations and the duration of the strike shall be provided from time to time.

Statement issued by National Office Bearers (NOBS), July 8 2014

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