BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) will be writing to Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Car SA to demand that it formalise a planned restructuring process that could see the number of dealerships in SA reduced.

Dealerfloor, a motor industry news source, quoted Volvo as saying recently: “While we have plans to resize our dealer network locally, Volvo remains fully committed to the SA market. This commitment is evident in the continued investment in electrified mobility and the introduction of new models.” Numsa national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola commented on Monday:   “All we can say is that we were not formally informed. We will be writing to them to demand that they formalise this process by serving us with section 189 [a Labour Relations Act process dealing with retrenchments]. Everything we know right now is based on media reports.” She said the union was dismayed that the restructuring process might result in the “closure of some of its dealerships.” Numsa is a recognised union, “but it has not been officially notified of Volvo’s plans”. Hlubi-Majola went on to state: “Numsa condemns the management of Volvo SA for not respecting the [Labour Relations Act] process and causing widespread panic to workers at dealerships. Numsa is demanding that a formal process be followed in order to ensure that the rights of workers are not violated in this process.” She indicated that the union was ready to defend workers and their livelihoods and “we will do whatever is necessary to defend jobs”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)

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