The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) will be picketing at the offices of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to highlight the plight of workers at SA Steel Mills. (SA Steel Mills is trading as Alfeco Holdings). Our members have been on strike since the 22nd of May to demand that shopstewards must be recognized and be granted full rights to defend workers, because NUMSA is the majority union. The other issues that have angered our members include the unfair and unlawful dismissal of 162 workers, for participating in a protected strike.
The management of SA Steel Mills is truly unscrupulous, on a scale that we have not seen in a long time. NUMSA had to intervene when two of its members were wrongfully arrested by the SAPS yesterday because the management falsely claimed that the strike was interdicted. They also claimed that workers were violent, which was untrue. They deliberately presented an interim order from the court, to the police which had been erroneously issued. NUMSA won an application on Friday (31 May) to set aside this order. The strike continues, and it has not been interdicted.
The employer is truly shameless in their complete disregard of the labour laws, centralized bargaining and health and safety regulations. There have been several incidents of workers enduring serious injuries, some have even dies because SA Steel Mills is a dangerous place to work.
SA Steel Mills has been the beneficiary of funding from the IDC. This funding is raised through tax contributions made by workers, including workers at the company. It cannot be, that workers, whose blood sweat and tears contributed directly to SA Steel Mills existence, are now being abused by the very same company, through unfair dismissals, and, through gross violations of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHSA) Act. Workers have suffered from horrific accidents at the company and the Department of Employment and Labour has failed to hold them properly accountable.
NUMSA is demanding that the IDC must re-evalute the funding it has given to SA Steel Mills because its management is dishonest, and does not respect the law. Our members will be picketing at IDC offices on Friday, media are invited.
The details of the picket are:
Date: Friday 7 June 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: IDC offices, 19 Fredman Drive, Sandton
Meanwhile the strike at SA Steel Mills continues until all our demands are met.
Issued by Kabelo Ramokhathali
NUMSA Regional Secretary Sedibeng
For more information, please contact:
Phakamile Hlubi-Majola
NUMSA National Spokesperson
PDF DOWNLOAD: NUMSA to picket at the IDC offices to demand that it must re-evaluate its funding to SA Steel Mills