Nokukhanya Mntambo 7 June 2024 | 13:09

Striking NUMSA workers give IDC 5 days to respond to demands

NUMSA is calling on the IDC to address wage disparaties and safety concerns, as well as the recognition of shop steward in the workplace.

Striking NUMSA workers give IDC 5 days to respond to demands

NUMSA staged a picket outside the IDC headquarters in Sandton on Friday, 7 June 2024 calling for wage disparities and safety concerns to be addressed. Picture: @Numsa_Media/X.

JOHANNESBURG - Metalworkers’ Union NUMSA (National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa) has given the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) five days to respond to its demands amid a labour dispute between the union and steel producers SA Steel Mills.

This comes after NUMSA escalated its fight for shop steward recognition at SA Steel Mills to its funders - the IDC.

The union staged a picket outside the IDC headquarters in Sandton on Friday, also calling for wage disparities and safety concerns to be addressed.

Operations at the SA Steel Mills plant in the Vaal ground were halted more than two weeks ago, amid a labour impasse between workers and the company.

PICS, VIDEO: NUMSA members brave the cold to picket outside IDC

The steel producer trading as Alfeco Holdings rejected workers’ calls to be represented by union shop stewards in the workplace.

NUMSA has also accused the company of flouting safety regulations and ignoring pleas to address poor working conditions.

The company later dismissed more than 160 workers in what the labour court has since declared a lawful strike.

"We are giving you five business days to respond in writing to our demands. We expect IDC to be an active shareholder in this process. You cannot ignore what we have brought to your table," said Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.

“These workers were fired as an act of defiance against the Labour Court after it specifically blocked them from disciplining and dismissing workers. SA Steel Mills are constitutional delinquents." 

Hlubi-Majola said the IDC must withhold funding to SA Steel Mill until it complies with the union's demands.

“The demand that the IDC, as a shareholding institution, must compel SA Steel Mills, which is trading as Alfeco holdings, to comply. They must also pay workers a minimum wage which is prescribed by the metals engineering industries bargaining council.”

The union doesn't believe taking its grievances to the IDC was misdirected.