The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has condemned Macsteel management for sparking an indefinite strike that began on Friday last week.

Numsa claims that Macsteel forcibly retrenched workers and pressured them into accepting voluntary severance packages of just R40 000 based on one week’s pay per year of service.

The union calls this far below industry standards, which typically offer three to four weeks’ pay per year.

Numsa has rejected the retrenchment process as a sham, accusing Macsteel of harassing workers and ignoring consultation protocols.

Numsa Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says, “The attitude that we have experienced from Macsteel management is one of extreme antagonism and hostility particularly during the time when we were engaging during the Section 189 consultations.”

Hlubi-Majola adds, “The approach that the management took, which was to unilaterally offer voluntary severance packages, those voluntary severance packages, they did not discuss with the union, what that would look like.”

PODCAST | Interview with Hlubi-Majola on SAFM’s First Take Programme: