The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has been victorious at Golden Arrow. We have managed to force the company to back down on its plans to unilaterally change the conditions of employment. We salute our members for the courage they displayed by resisting the brutal attack that was meant to strip them of all the important benefits that were fought for by generations of workers who came before them. About 98% of our members voted for a strike through balloting last week, and we intended to embark on strike action this week.

 

Our members have successfully secured all the benefits which Golden Arrow attempted to take away as of the 1st of August 2020. The following benefits remain intact:

1.     All Golden Arrow employees continue to enjoy their actual rates of pay as it was before the 1st August 2020.

2.     They will enjoy with future increases on their actual rates of pay, not what was written by Golden Arrow management

3.     They will continue to enjoy contributions towards their pension/provident fund on their actual rates of pay, not on minimums as communicated by management.

4.     Workers will continue to earn their overtime at their actual rate of pay as it was and not as communicated by management.

Now that Golden Arrow has agreed to withdraw its plans, we will no longer be embarking on strike action as intended.

However, this does not mean that the battle with Golden Arrows is over. In a general meeting held on Saturday the 3rd October 2020, our members expressed their extreme unhappiness with Golden Arrow management who are hell bent on making their lives difficult. They are frustrated because their Top Notch benefit was taken away from them, and that the case has been delayed in court since 2018. They have also been denied other increases as well. We are determined to pursue the management of Golden Arrows for every one of those outstanding demands. We will not rest until all those benefits which were unfairly stripped from workers are restored to them in full.

Aluta continua!

The struggle continues!

 

Issued by NUMSA Regional Secretary Western Cape