Tebogo Msimanga |
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) welcomed the collective agreement which was signed with Cast Products on Tuesday,27 September 2022. Cast Products is a steel manufacturing company with operations in Dinwiddie, Boksburg and Benoni employing approximately 820 employees in the bargaining forum.
The company was initially planning to retrench 146 workers because it was in financial distress. It is also currently under business rescue which started in February 2022.
NUMSA Regional Secretary Ekurhuleni Thembile Livi said through lengthy talks with the employer, NUMSA has managed to negotiate for the forced job cuts to be reduced. “We have also negotiated increases for the next two years for those who will remain. For the first time, this agreement will also be extended to salaried staff who have not received increases for the past four years”.
Levi added that for the first year workers will receive a 6% across-the-board increase on the actual rates of pay and based on the gross salaries for staff. The first year increase will be backdated from the 1st of July this year and increases will be paid in full on or before the end of October 2022. The increase will be in effect until 30 June 2023.
“For the period 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 (2nd year) all employees will receive a 7% increase and the agreement will expire on June 30 2024”.
Levi further said NUMSA also managed to negotiate increases for the next two years for its members and also for non-unionized members so all workers at Cast Products will benefit from this agreement. “This is why we are calling on all workers at Cast Products to join NUMSA in their numbers because we genuinely fight for improved conditions and wages for the working class. This is what drives us an organization”.
