NUMSA calls on Ford to halt job cuts as 474 workers face retrenchment
The National Union of Mineworkers has called on Ford to halt its planned retrenchments and engage in meaningful consultations to find alternatives.
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called on Ford to halt its planned retrenchments and engage in meaningful consultations to find alternatives.
This comes after the company issued a Section 189 notice announcing it plans to cut 474 permanent jobs at its Silverton and Struandale plants as part of a "manufacturing realignment".
In a statement issued to the media on Monday, General Secretary Irvin Jim warned that the retrenchments will contribute to further deindustrialisation and job losses in the sector.
"NUMSA has witnessed a painful pattern that as soon as employers' profits are under threat, the first thing they do is to target what they regard as the weakest link in the chain, which is workers," Jim said.
The union also emphasised the need for government intervention to support manufacturing and prevent large-scale job cuts.
"NUMSA is shocked at the announcement made by Ford Motor Company South Africa. We regard these plant closures and retrenchments as an attack on the South African working class.
"We have repeatedly stated that we urgently need more manufacturing and industrialization to create the most needed jobs in order to reverse deindustrialization that has taken place for the past three decades of our democracy, and stimulate economic growth in the economy. And surely these retrenchments are worsening the levels of de-industrialization that have already taken place".
The union further called on Ford Motor Company and the CCMA to "set up dates for us to engage in consultation with the union, taking into account that we have a mere 60 days to find alternatives".
"We will engage Ford Motor company and advance alternatives to retrenchments. We call on all workers to unite behind the union. They must speak to shop stewards for more information on the process".
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