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TimesLIVE reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) says that to defend the jobs of its members, it will fight to reverse the closure of ArcelorMittal SA’s (Amsa’s) long-steel plants.
“We cannot allow even more workers to lose their jobs unnecessarily if something can be done. We all have a responsibility to protect jobs, particularly because we have an extremely high unemployment rate and the highest levels of inequality in the world,” the union stated. Amsa announced on Monday possible job cuts as its long steel business would be winding down and put under care and maintenance. It estimated 3,500 people would lose their jobs. The wind-down will affect all long-steel plants, including the Newcastle Works, Vereeniging Works and the rail and structures subsidiary Amras. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said the union doubted whether there was appreciation by the government of how dangerous it was to allow Amsa to close the plants. “Unless a solution is found to retain the current capacity, allowing these plants to close could be potentially catastrophic, and it would spell disaster for manufacturing and industrialisation of our country. This would have a direct negative affect on the community in Sedibeng and in Newcastle where these plants are located,” Jim said. He added that it was the union’s duty to do everything possible to save jobs.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE
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