NUMSA condemns Macsteel management over 'hostile' retrenchments

JOHANNESBURG - The National Union of Metalworkers South Africa has condemned Macsteel management for what is described as a hostile retrenchment and a sham section 189 process.

Members of the union have been on an indefinite strike since last Friday.

NUMSA has accused Macsteel of forcefully retrenching workers and issuing voluntary severance packages without proper consultation.

The union alleges that workers were harassed and coerced into accepting voluntary severance packages of R40,000 based on just one week's pay per completed year of service

Numsa says the figure is far below the industry norm of three to four weeks'gross remuneration.

Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “Our members are on strike, they've been on strike since the 22nd of August, the strike is about rejecting Macsteel’s hostile approach, we're also rejecting the voluntary severance packages that were offered and also reject the attacks and the abuse of workers.”