Join the marches against price increases from JulyNational march to go ahead on August 6

Nedlac has given the go ahead for Cosatu to march around the rising electricity, food and transport costs and the increased interest rates. We need tell you no more. You know how these price increases are affecting you and your neighbour both in this country and across the world!

March on these dates:

CLUSTERED REGIONS

ACTION DATE

KZN, E. Cape and W. Cape

9 July 2008

Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Free State

16 July 2008

Gauteng, Limpopo and North West

23 July 2008

All Regions / Provinces

6 August 2008

“We have to show that we cannot cope with these price increases,” says Numsa’s collective bargaining coordinator, Bafana Ndebele.Cosatu is demanding:* an end to super profits and super salaries for executives* the dismissal of CEOs in agricultural, food manufacturing and retail companies that are found guilty of fixing prices and the suspension of those that are being investigated* an immediate reduction in basic food prices and a freeze on future food price increases* the setting up of a state-owned enterprise that will operate across basic foodstuffs like maize meal, bread, milk, vegetables* the nationalisation of the maize meal, bread and milk value-chains* that government, farmers and retailers must meet to try and regulate basic food prices* the Minister of Finance must increase social grants by 20% in the 2009/10 budget year

(Note: Because Nedlac has approved the actions, it means that you cannot be fired for taking part. But your employer does not have to pay you if you do decide to support the march.)

Bayside retrenchment – no resolution in sight!Cedric Gina

As reported in the last Numsa News, 424 Numsa members at Bayside Aluminium in Richards Bay are set to lose their jobs due to the government’s failure to invest in power generation. The consultation in terms of Section 189 (a) has taken place. A dispute was instituted.

A certificate of unresolved dispute was issued. “So, what now?”, the workers are asking!A general meeting took place. Workers rejected the company offer. They want to go on strike. The leaders are preparing for the strike.

Will it be successful? Can we afford a small strike?The MEC of Economic Development, Dr Zweli Mkhize visited the company. Numsa tried to set up a meeting. “It was too late”, we were told. The itinerary was rigid. We find solace in the MEC‘s willingness to meet with Numsa.

The office of the Numsa regional secretary in KwaZulu Natal, Mbuso Ngubane has arranged a meeting with the MEC.The promises of deployment are bearing some fruit. About 20 Bayside employees have moved across John Ross Highway to Hillside Aluminium as from 1 June 2008. The number is too small to cushion the impact. These are highly skilled technicians in the main.

They do not represent the core of Numsa’s constituency.Enterprise development training is taking place. Shop stewards and members are attending, whilst they wait for that important decision from the union.More and more people are coming forward to take voluntary severance packages. Workers with maths and science are saved from the retrenched lists.
The company is frustrated at the point system for determining who comes back. The shop stewards are approached. They do not know how to respond, they look to the union leadership to advise on the way forward.The Regional Secretary is the last hope to resolve the different schools of thought!

BARGAINING*BRIEFS*

Wage increasesWages for engineering, auto and tyre workers are to increase from July 1 2008. In terms of the 3-year agreements signed last year, the increases were to have been around 8%. However because these prices are sky-rocketing, Numsa approached employers to ask them to further raise the agreed increases. This is what was on the go as at June 25:

* engineering – a special Numsa NEC approved employers' proposal to extend the three-year agreement until 2011. In exchange all workers will get a 10,4% (May CPI-X) increase from July 1 2008. * auto – Employers said they would consider a two-year extension to the agreement until 2012 and if Numsa agrees, then they will grant a CPI-X or CPI-X plus improvement factor increase but only from 2009. This year they will give an 8% increase as per the agreement.

Auto workers are discussing their proposal.* tyre – Employers have refused to offer anything above the 3-year agreement. Tyre workers will receive a 8% increase from July 1.

Surplus payoutsNumsa's benefits coordinator, Sam Tsiane, says there is a good chance that the Financial Services Board (FSB) will give the go ahead to pay out the surpluses in retirement funds in Numsa's auto, tyre and motor sectors by August. But there is still no good news on the engineering surplus.

However, there are other monies that are owing to engineering workers that left the industry without claiming all their monies. If you think that you might have some money owing to you, send the following to MIBFA, PO Box 7507 Johannesburg 2000.

Certified copy of your Identity Document* copy of your bank statement showing your account number* the dates you worked in the engineering industry and when you left* your contact details including your telephone and physical addressOr phone them on 011 870 2000

STOP PRESSPetrol attendant slainPetrol attendant Armanda Muhaswa was murdered when he asked a motorist to pay for the petrol that he had filled the motorist's car with. Two others are recovering after they were run over by motorists who were avoiding to pay for their petrol.Numsa has condemned these attacks and demanded that:

All motorists must pay upfront for the fuel they require in their vehicles; SAPIA (South African Petroleum Industry Association) and security companies must ensure the presence of security patrols at and around petrol stations; SAPS must increase their patrols and visibility around petrol stations; SAPIA (South African Petroleum Industry Association) must ensure that all the CCTV surveillance cameras are operational at all times; Forecourt attendants must report, rather than argue, with any customer who refuses to pay for fuel; Forecourt attendants must report suspicious people around the forecourt or ATM.

How else can Numsa protect its members from criminals like this?

Seating locks out workersXolisile Copiso

Did chair manufacturer Seating purposely choose to lock out its 300-strong workforce, when it knew the Queenstown Numsa organiser was in Port Elizabeth attending his region's congress? Workers had informed management of their intention to demonstrate over the implementation date for the rectification of wage anomalies within grades in the plant.

Even though an in principle agreement existed on how these anomalies were to be rectified, there was no consensus on the implementation date. Management wanted July 2009 whilst workers wanted July 2008. Workers decided to embark on peaceful lunch-time demonstrations in support of their demand.

The demonstration started and continued for two days. On the third day the company locked out the workers when they were coming back from their usual lunch-time demonstration. Management said workers were making a noise and that had disrupted the office staff who were still working.

The employer said this constituted an illegal industrial action which gave them the right to lock workers out.The Union took the matter to the Labour Court for an urgent court interdict. Meanwhile workers remained locked out for nearly two weeks.During this time workers remained united.

They arrived at work at 7h30 and stayed until 16h00 showing their employer that they wanted to work. Workers even contributed R20 each day to buy lunch whilst they continued their day-to-day toyi-toying.

The court granted the Union the interdict provided that workers halted their demonstrations. Since then employers and workers have agreed on a compromise date to rectify the anomalies by January 2009.

No good news for Eastern Free State areaSteel scaffolding manufacturer, Unispan, wants to continue paying just more than half of what other engineering workers are paid.

The Eastern Free State-based company claims that it competes against other companies in the Gauteng region. It says its transport costs are much higher than its competitors and now rising oil prices have made the situation even worse.

Unispan wants workers to agree to be paid at 65% of the main agreement rates in five years time. Currently workers are earning 60% of the minimum rates. “Workers are angry,” says Numsa local organiser, Mkhonto Ntshangase, “they believe the company can pay 80% of the minimum rates.

On July 8, parties will meet again under the Independent Exemption Appeal Board facilitation to discuss the wage exemption issue. If there is no agreement, this Board will issue the outcome of the appeal hearing of May 29.

Meanwhile neighbouring company Qwa Qwa Wire is applying to continue to pay its workers at 50% of the minimum rates for the next five years. Workers in the Harrismith area are on the losing end. Last year CBI closed down leaving 1000 workers without jobs. Qwa Qwa Rubber also closed last year putting a further 70 workers out of work. Other textile companies have also closed. The area is in desperate need of jobs.

Associate and continuation membershipVeronica Mofokeng

The decline of the world economy is having an impact on businesses across the globe.South Africa is also experiencing this. High interest rates, oil prices and food prices are affecting companies just as they are affecting workers. Companies are starting to retrench workers. Unemployment is going to increase.Numsa tries to protect its members by extending their cover to the Doves Funeral Scheme once they stop working.

If you lose your job because you are retrenched or dismissed and you were a paying member of Numsa for more than two years, you can apply to be an ASSOCIATE MEMBER. You MUST apply within 30 days of leaving the industry to your nearest Numsa office. They will forward your application to your regional office.

You will not have to pay subscriptions but you will have to pay something each month to continue to belong to the Numsa/Doves Funeral Scheme. Should you or one of your family members die, you will be covered by the Numsa/Doves Funeral Scheme.

If you lose your job because you retire or are ill and you were a paying member of Numsa for more than two years, you can apply to be a CONTINUATION MEMBER. You MUST apply within 30 days of leaving the industry to your nearest Numsa office.

They will forward your application to the National Finance Committee. You will not have to pay subscriptions. You will NOT have to pay to the Numsa/Doves Funeral Scheme. Should you or one of your family members die, you will be covered by the Numsa/Doves Funeral Scheme.

Ngabe udiliziwe, usuthathe umhlalaphansi noma uxoshiwe?Khumbula ukuthi yize noma udiliziwe, uxoshiwe noma usanda kuthatha umhlalaphansi (ngenxa yobudala noma ukungaphili) kodwa uvumelekile ukuqhubeka nokuba yilungu le-Numsa Doves Funeral Fund.*

Kufuneka ube kade uyilungu likaNumsa elibukhokhelayo ubulungu balo isikhathi esingaphezu kweminyaka emibili.* Uma udiliziwe noma uxoshiwe, kuzodingeka kube khona okukhokhayo eSikhwameni.* Uma usuthathe umhlalaphansi, uzoba yilungu leSikhwama mahhala. Kufuneka ufake isicelo ehhovisi le-Numsa eliseduze nawe zingakapheli izinsuku ezi-30 emuva kokuba ulahlekelwe ngumsebenzi.

Afgelê, afgetree of afgedank?Onthou dat as jy afgelê of afgedank is, of net afgetree het (weens ouderdom of swak gesondheid), kan jy nog steeds ‘n lid van Numsa se Doves-Begrafnisfonds bly.* Jy moet reeds vir meer as twee jaar ‘n Numsa-lid met betaalde subskripsies wees.*

As jy afgelê of afgedank is, sal jy iets by die Fonds moet bydra.* As jy afgetree het, sal jy gratis lidmaatskap van die Fonds hê.Jy moet binne 30 dae nadat jy jou werk verloor het, by jou naaste Numsa-kantoor aansoek doen.

O fokoditswe mosebetsing, o lebohile mosebetsi, o tebetswe mosebetsing?Hopola hore haebe o fokoditswe mosebetsing, o tebetswe mosebetsing kapa o lebohile mosebetsi (ka baka la dilemo kapa ho kula), o ka nna wa dula o ntse o le setho sa Letlole la Lepato la Doves la Numsa.*

O tshwanetse hore o be o lefile tjhelete ya botho ba Numsa bakeng sa dilemo tse ka hodimo ho tse pedi.* Haebe o ile wa fokotswa mosebetsing kapa wa tebelwa, o tla lokela ho lefa ho itseng Letloleng.* Ha o lebohile mosebetsi, o tla ba le botho ba mahala ba Letlole.

O lokela ho etsa kopo ofising e haufi le wena ya Numsa ho eso fete matsatsi a 30 ka mora ho lahlehelwa ke mosebetsi wa hao.

Source

Numsa News