The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) at Ford South Africa will down tools on Thursday, 4 July, following failed negotiations on the payment of bonus.
Irvin Jim, NUMSA General Secretary says their first resolution was to negotiate with Ford Management. Ford failed to reach an agreement with Numsa at the conciliation held on 11 June 2024 at the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) offices in Pretoria.
Following failure to reach an agreement, Numsa gave the motor company an opportunity to rethink its decision, however, the management has not responded to the union to date.
Reason for strikeOur members are creators of wealth and Ford has benefitted hugely from the sweat and labour of workers, says Jim. He also says management labels the demand for bonuses as impermissible, as they claim workers have no right to demand bonuses.
Jim says Ford can afford to pay its employees bonuses as it makes around 720 cars per day. We reject their reasons and justifications for refusing to share the profit with workers. He also quoted the figures Ford Global has made in the previous years, according to Macrotrends.
