Numsa strike at automotive company enters seventh week

Tenneco Automotive workers in the Eastern Cape affiliated with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) have been striking for seven weeks.

The workers are demanding the rate of R114 per hour for the dismissed workers to be retained, the equalisation of rates for all employees doing the same work as those earning R114 per hour and the immediate reinstatement of all 87 dismissed workers who rejected down-variation of pay rates.

Numsa has meanwhile condemned the management of Tenneco for allegedly refusing to find common ground.

‘Rigid attitude’

The union revealed on Friday that 87 workers remain unfairly dismissed and one worker passed away due to a heart attack, because of the ‘rigid’ attitude displayed by the employer.

While the CCMA has tried several times to intervene, the employer has refused all efforts to resolve the impasse.

ALSO READ: Numsa goes on strike over 100 retrenchments and pay cuts at automotive company

Numsa said it has applied for a section 150 application in terms of the Labour Relations Act to permit the CCMA to appoint someone to facilitate resolution of the current dispute between the parties.

“If Tenneco’s inflexible attitude persists, it will require all workers, all unions, and their federations to set aside their differences and fight together to defeat this attack on workers hard won gains.

“It is for this reason that Numsa has begun a process to consult workers from four other sister companies in South Africa, which fall under the component manufacturing sector and auto assemblers, with the clear intention of getting support for a solidarity action,” said Mziyanda Twani, Numsa’s regional secretary.

Solidarity

The union has thanked local communities, international sister unions and other organisations for standing with it.

“We have resolved to intensify our international solidarity campaign so that Tenneco Globally must respond to the plight of South African Tenneco employees. Such a response must be consistent with their global policies as stated above.”     

The union said the strike is indefinite strike and it will continue until all demands are met.

NOW READ: Numsa threatens strike over Easter weekend if demands aren’t met