Numsa Says It Remains Resolute In Fight For Better Wages For Workers

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa Numsa says it will remain resolute in its fight for better wages and working conditions for workers. The union convened its three-day bargaining conference in Sandton today.

The conference brings together shop stewards from all nine provinces to consolidate the demands of workers under various sectors including motor, auto and road freight sectors among others.

Trade and Industry Minister, Parks Tau, addressed workers, saying despite expectations for a resolution, no final agreement has been reached with ArcelorMittal.

On the steel industry, the minister says as the government they have committed to addressing the challenges both domestically and in light of US tariffs on steel and aluminium.

We have met with the sector in the executive oversight committee where both labour and the companies were represented. We had a discussion about what direction we should take. The collective agreement was that the industry demands and requests that government comes back with clarity in terms our own policy direction when it comes to steel on the basis of a number of questions they have wanted us to engage. We committed in those discussions to, as a matter of urgency address those issues, adds Tau.