Tebogo Msimanga |
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) intends to challenge the termination notices which SAA Technical (SAAT) issued to workers. The Union said it reject plans by SAAT to retrench 75 per cent of its staff.
NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim said the CCMA suspended the section 189A consultation process in July because SAAT management was unable to commit to how it planned to finance the packages for those workers who were to be retrenched, and this includes outstanding salaries.
“SAAT was initially contemplating retrenching 1443 staff to retain only 857 people. But they increased the proposed number of job cuts to 1850. We rejected this proposal because we felt they had provided no rationale.”
For some workers, these notices will come into effect on the 18th of November. Jim added that the management of SAAT is being opportunistic. “They did not follow the proper process when they announced that they were going to cut more jobs.”
Jim further said they wrote to the SAAT management expressing their concerns, but they continued with the termination process.
“We cannot allow the same SAAT executive management to get away with such massive job cuts when they are responsible for the financial collapse of the entity in the first place. We are consulting attorneys because we intend to go to court to challenge the termination letters. We will do everything possible to fight to protect workers’ interests”. Reiterated Jim.
