NEASA Perseverance

PERSEVERE! in 2018 …

 

… by following the example of the ant.

 

SOME GOOD NEWS

 

and

 

WHAT TO EXPECT OF NEASA

 

Dear Job Creator

 

We wish you a 2018 in which you will advance in all areas of your business and your life. May even your greatest challenge prove to be the launching pad for victory and opportunity.

 

THE ANT EMBODIES PERSEVERANCE

 

“Go to the ant. I once was forced to take shelter from my enemies in a ruined building, where I sat alone many hours. Desiring to divert my mind from my hopeless condition, I fixed my eyes on an ant that was carrying a grain of corn larger than itself up a high wall. I numbered the efforts it made to accomplish this object. The grain fell sixty-nine times to the ground; but the insect persevered, and the seventieth time it reached the top. This sight gave me courage at the moment, and I never forgot the lesson.” Tammerlane quoted in The King’s Business.

 

WE ALREADY SENSE THE ‘WINDS OF CHANGE’ OF THE RAMAPHOSA ERA

 

The activities of our law enforcement agencies, the removal of Richard Mdluli, the appointment of the new Eskom Board, the removal of president Zuma from Team SA to Davos, are just some of the issues that illustrate that we have entered into a new era in South Africa. The underlying challenges remain, but there is a new team leader. Let’s make full use of every opportunity which presents itself this year.

 

WHAT NEASA WILL DO IN 2018

 

We will persist in championing your cause. In terms of our vision, we will continue to, through all means possible, cut the portion of your path entrusted to us, in order to maximise your potential, for the benefit of all South Africans.

 

IN TERMS OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE, AND WHERE LITIGATION CANNOT BE AVOIDED, we will …

 

…continue to be your representative in industrial relations matters in the workplace, and where matters proceed to the various litigation forums, i.e. the CCMA, bargaining councils and the labour court, we will act on your behalf. In 2017, we had 33 000 face-to-face interactions of this nature with employers – in all industries. The demands of the workplace will require that our performance in this area will increase in 2018 and we undertake to improve in the manner that we serve you.

 

IN TERMS OF OUR FIGHT FOR A FAIR AND GROWTH PROMOTING LABOUR DISPENSATION, we will …

 

…continue to advocate for a labour dispensation with much reduced red tape, a dispensation which will invite large scale employment, addressing the dangers of South Africa’s outrageous unemployment rate.

 

IN TERMS OF SOUTH AFRICA’s BARGAINING COUNCIL DISPENSATION, we will:

 

• intensify our lobbying for a democratic, fair and constitutional compliant dispensation, a drastic departure from the current dispensation where the voice ofSMMEs are deliberately nullified through undemocratic and most probably unconstitutional labour legislation, aimed at keeping the SMME hostile bargaining councils artificially alive; and

• in particular, we will keep a beady eye on any attempt by the Steel Industry Federation of South Africa (Seifsa) to do anything, for self serving purposes, which will further harm the SMMEs in the Steel Sector. In particular, we will diligently guard against any unlawful attempt to extend their July 2017 agreement, with Numsa, to the rest of the Steel Industry – which comprises 88 percent of the Steel Industry. We will continue to regularly remind the Steel Industry of the harm Seifsa has caused the Industry – ‘lest we forget’.

Just a short remark involving Seifsa. Although Seifsa is just a shadow of its former self, completely marginalised in terms of dictating affairs in the Steel Industry, that does not mean that we can take our eyes off their activities, especially their predictable unlawful efforts to enforce their hostile Industry agreement on non-parties. They have proved time and time again that they simply cannot be trusted – least of all with the affairs of the Steel Industry.

 

AMSA, STEEL IMPORTS AND DUTIES

 

We will continue our lobbying for the total abolishment of both customs- and safeguard import duties in the Steel Industry. These duties, all aimed at rescuing ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) from imploding, are the result of suspect dealings in the pre-Ramaphosa era. These duties are causing irreparable harm to the Steel Downstream. Unfortunately, unless AMSA makes a very substantial investment in their South African operations in order to make it competitive, which they apparently have no desire to do, AMSA’s fate is sealed -its not a question of if, it’s only a matter of when.

 

TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

 

We will constantly improve our national skills development drive and, in conjunction with high quality training, empower all South Africans.

 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

 

We will constantly improve and expand our drive, through the participation of our members, to give theoretically qualified black students essential exposure to practical workplace experience.

 

We will continue to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit and individualistic approach of the employer, the uniqueness of every business, where necessary we will challenge what we deem hostile towards business interests – to the extent that it is hostile towards the interests of South Africa – and, above all, we will nurture our love for our country.

 

If you want to enquire about NEASA or join our cause, click here.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Privileged and challenged to be South African.

We are all in this together.