Publications
Partners
Cape Town – Strike action by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has caused widespread disruption to businesses across South Africa, resulting in revenue losses of well over R300m a day, according to the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber spokesperson Pietman Roos said many businesses were closing their doors to avoid further damage to property and intimidation of non-striking workers. “The estimated loss of income to the economy is far worse than our current estimate, as any business who supplies or needs to be supplied by the affected businesses are also suffering,” he said. “A strike like this puts even more pressure on the South African economy.”
A Fin24 user wrote: “We are a small transport company and ever since the strike started on 1 July our trucks have been standing due to our clients who have closed their doors. Our employees will be put on short time or even retrenched if it goes on. Our employees are being affected by the strike and they aren't even striking.”
Roos said union members have the right to strike, but that non-union members have the same right to go to work. “There should be a balance of rights,” he said. “It affects workers who are not unionised or a part of the strike.”
Roos said police presence was crucial to avoid further loss or damage to businesses. “In the first week of the strike, there were reports of property damage and even a report of a dog being burnt,” he said. “There is a criminality of these strikes that cannot be ignored.”
A Fin24 user in Cape Town wrote: “We were affected heavily when people were injured going to work at the head office factory.”
Another Fin24 user from Heriotdale, Johannesburg wrote: “The striking staff members even go to the houses of non-union members to make sure that they are not working. We have had Numsa members push through our gates demanding to see our factory to ensure that we are not working. This has been in full view of escorting police officers, who made no attempt to intervene. We have not produced for nearly three weeks and we are not sure how long our company can manage like this."
“I witnessed a big march in Germiston yesterday (Thursday) and it was peaceful as there was a good police presence,” Roos said. “They had control of that situation. But when 20 protesters suddenly start protesting in front of a business without police visibility, then there is a potential for it to get out of hand.”
Fear and frustration
The industrial relations system is not functioning correctly, Roos said. “The framework should be there to get a quick and peaceful resolution,” he said. “We see that it now enables parties to use certain measures to drive other points, outside the negotiations.”
He said the actions by unions could be a sign of frustration or fear that they are going to lose members. “The economy is heading away from a unionised industry,” he said. “It is moving away from industry and moving to services, which does not have a culture of unions.
“This could be why they are pushing for drastic actions,” he said. “It’s a plan to evolve into something different.
“When they say business can go to hell, it is a sure sign that there’s another agenda,” he said. “Numsa saying that we need to look at wage subsidies and youth tax incentives is a political problem. It’s not about getting better pay or improving work conditions – there must be more of a political agenda,” Roos said.
A Fin24 user in Bedfordview wrote: “My business, as well as most of my clients’ businesses, has come to a halt, not as result of our workers striking, but as a direct result of Numsa members intimidating all the employees. We have been threatened with everything from ‘we will beat your employees’ to ‘we will burn down your factories’. I have seen the police who are supposed to safeguard people and property (who) do nothing when strikers force their way into private property and threaten people.”
Another Fin24 user wrote: “Strikers forced us to open our premises so they could search for staff who defied the strike. They were apparently tipped off that staff were at work. Fearing for our lives and damage to our operation, we let two of the leaders in, whilst some 300 were outside singing and chanting and shaking our gate and fence. We have eight metal workers and 50 non-metal workers and all were too afraid to come to work."
A Fin24 user in Chloorkop, Johannesburg wrote: “None of my employees are Numsa members, but they can’t come to work because the strikers came to my workshop twice and removed them all from my premises. They were forced to join the march and were told if they returned to work they would be removed with violence.”
* Fin24 has sent case numbers to the SAPS for comment, but no response was forthcoming at the time of publication. An update will be made once we receive comment.
- Fin24
Chamber spokesperson Pietman Roos said many businesses were closing their doors to avoid further damage to property and intimidation of non-striking workers. “The estimated loss of income to the economy is far worse than our current estimate, as any business who supplies or needs to be supplied by the affected businesses are also suffering,” he said. “A strike like this puts even more pressure on the South African economy.”
A Fin24 user wrote: “We are a small transport company and ever since the strike started on 1 July our trucks have been standing due to our clients who have closed their doors. Our employees will be put on short time or even retrenched if it goes on. Our employees are being affected by the strike and they aren't even striking.”
Roos said union members have the right to strike, but that non-union members have the same right to go to work. “There should be a balance of rights,” he said. “It affects workers who are not unionised or a part of the strike.”
Roos said police presence was crucial to avoid further loss or damage to businesses. “In the first week of the strike, there were reports of property damage and even a report of a dog being burnt,” he said. “There is a criminality of these strikes that cannot be ignored.”
A Fin24 user in Cape Town wrote: “We were affected heavily when people were injured going to work at the head office factory.”
Another Fin24 user from Heriotdale, Johannesburg wrote: “The striking staff members even go to the houses of non-union members to make sure that they are not working. We have had Numsa members push through our gates demanding to see our factory to ensure that we are not working. This has been in full view of escorting police officers, who made no attempt to intervene. We have not produced for nearly three weeks and we are not sure how long our company can manage like this."
“I witnessed a big march in Germiston yesterday (Thursday) and it was peaceful as there was a good police presence,” Roos said. “They had control of that situation. But when 20 protesters suddenly start protesting in front of a business without police visibility, then there is a potential for it to get out of hand.”
Fear and frustration
The industrial relations system is not functioning correctly, Roos said. “The framework should be there to get a quick and peaceful resolution,” he said. “We see that it now enables parties to use certain measures to drive other points, outside the negotiations.”
He said the actions by unions could be a sign of frustration or fear that they are going to lose members. “The economy is heading away from a unionised industry,” he said. “It is moving away from industry and moving to services, which does not have a culture of unions.
“This could be why they are pushing for drastic actions,” he said. “It’s a plan to evolve into something different.
“When they say business can go to hell, it is a sure sign that there’s another agenda,” he said. “Numsa saying that we need to look at wage subsidies and youth tax incentives is a political problem. It’s not about getting better pay or improving work conditions – there must be more of a political agenda,” Roos said.
A Fin24 user in Bedfordview wrote: “My business, as well as most of my clients’ businesses, has come to a halt, not as result of our workers striking, but as a direct result of Numsa members intimidating all the employees. We have been threatened with everything from ‘we will beat your employees’ to ‘we will burn down your factories’. I have seen the police who are supposed to safeguard people and property (who) do nothing when strikers force their way into private property and threaten people.”
Another Fin24 user wrote: “Strikers forced us to open our premises so they could search for staff who defied the strike. They were apparently tipped off that staff were at work. Fearing for our lives and damage to our operation, we let two of the leaders in, whilst some 300 were outside singing and chanting and shaking our gate and fence. We have eight metal workers and 50 non-metal workers and all were too afraid to come to work."
A Fin24 user in Chloorkop, Johannesburg wrote: “None of my employees are Numsa members, but they can’t come to work because the strikers came to my workshop twice and removed them all from my premises. They were forced to join the march and were told if they returned to work they would be removed with violence.”
* Fin24 has sent case numbers to the SAPS for comment, but no response was forthcoming at the time of publication. An update will be made once we receive comment.
- Fin24
