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Cape Town - The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) should restrategise a better action plan with community stakeholders if it does not get a settlement soon, a union independent of Cosatu said.
Karel Swart, deputy general secretary of the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union, said the demands are affordable and so an agreement should have been made by now. “It’s to do with a principled decision by the owners to take a stand that they will not easily concede to the workers’ demands,” he said.
“It’s unfair – they want a three-year agreement, but at the same time they won’t make any concessions. Business will make huge profits, but the level of inequalities is increasing every day. This in essence creates conflict.”
Swart believes Numsa could have a better chance of success if it strategised with community stakeholders and had clearer objectives that involved communities. If the industry did not accept the demands after that, a better strike action could be implemented that had buy-in from a broader group.
The union, which is independent of Cosatu, said Numsa has not taken into consideration the issues facing many communities that are affected by low wages and poor living conditions in the sector. “CSAAWU fully supports the strike, but to make it more effective, Numsa must connect with the community,” he told Fin24.
“They will lose their trust if they do not take up their issues” and address “the suffering of the community”, he said. “Numsa and Cosatu should pull out of their alliance with the ANC, because they are not carrying out the mandate that the majority has asked for.”
Commenting on the concurrent strikes that have hit this country, Swart said the majority is not happy with the way the economy is being run. “The wealth of this country is owned by a few,” he said. “You will see huge problems until there is change.”
Swart said the Western Cape union condemned any strike-related violence, but said they understood why it happened. “I can understand the frustration of the strikers. If you win, everyone benefits.”
Karel Swart, deputy general secretary of the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union, said the demands are affordable and so an agreement should have been made by now. “It’s to do with a principled decision by the owners to take a stand that they will not easily concede to the workers’ demands,” he said.
“It’s unfair – they want a three-year agreement, but at the same time they won’t make any concessions. Business will make huge profits, but the level of inequalities is increasing every day. This in essence creates conflict.”
Swart believes Numsa could have a better chance of success if it strategised with community stakeholders and had clearer objectives that involved communities. If the industry did not accept the demands after that, a better strike action could be implemented that had buy-in from a broader group.
The union, which is independent of Cosatu, said Numsa has not taken into consideration the issues facing many communities that are affected by low wages and poor living conditions in the sector. “CSAAWU fully supports the strike, but to make it more effective, Numsa must connect with the community,” he told Fin24.
“They will lose their trust if they do not take up their issues” and address “the suffering of the community”, he said. “Numsa and Cosatu should pull out of their alliance with the ANC, because they are not carrying out the mandate that the majority has asked for.”
Commenting on the concurrent strikes that have hit this country, Swart said the majority is not happy with the way the economy is being run. “The wealth of this country is owned by a few,” he said. “You will see huge problems until there is change.”
Swart said the Western Cape union condemned any strike-related violence, but said they understood why it happened. “I can understand the frustration of the strikers. If you win, everyone benefits.”
