NUMSA marches to demand GNU intervention to save 7,500 jobs at SA smelters

The National Union of Metal Workers South Africa (NUMSA) is expected to march to the Union Buildings on Monday, calling for the Government of National Unity (GNU) to take drastic action and intervene urgently on the closure of smelters in South Africa.

The union said its members are bearing the pain of the job losses at companies like Glencore, Samancor, and Almar Investments.

Last week, South Africa's Ferro-alloy industry tabled an electricity pricing proposal in a last-ditch attempt to ease the pressure.

South Africa has the world's largest chrome ore deposits, which are converted to ferrochrome, a key ingredient in the production of stainless steel.

But operational constraints have made it tougher for smelters to keep the lights on.

“By the 31st of December, Glencore will have cut 2000 jobs; Almar Investments has retrenched over 538 workers and Samancor has issued a section 189 notice where it states that it is contemplating retrenching 5000 workers,” said NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.

Hlubi-Majola said the union wants the GNU to come up with a bold and aggressive industrial policy to rescue the industry.

“It should be bold enough to declare a moratorium on retrenchments, and it must come up with a set of package interventions in the form of incentives that include banning certain imports of products that are destroying South Africa’s share of the market. Among the demands we will be making is for a reduced electricity tariff because these companies claim the cost of electricity accounts for more than 60% of their operational costs.”

A memorandum of demands will be handed to the office of the Presidency.