In light of comments by NUMSA that NEASA’s engaging in propagandist tactics by saying that they filed an urgent application in the Labour Court and then withdrew it, we’ve issued the following statement

 

The National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA) is appalled by claims from the National Union of Metal Workers of SA (NUMSA), suggesting that NEASA is fabricating the fact that the union launched an urgent application in the Labour Court and then, during court proceedings, withdrew the application. The urgent application was aimed at declaring NEASA’s lock-out of union workers who participated in the recent Metal Industry strike illegal. NUMSA’s deputy general secretary, Karl Cloete, went as far as to say that NEASA’s using this for propagandist reasons.

 

NEASA is pouring cold water on these claims and would be able to provide court documents proving that NUMSA’s urgent application was indeed filed in the Labour Court. The case (case number J1892/14) was scheduled to be heard on Tuesday, 5 August, in the Labour Court in Braamfontein. Both the legal teams from NEASA and NUMSA were present at the court where NUMSA’s attorneys then informed the parties that they’re withdrawing the urgent application. Costs were awarded against NUMSA.

 

NEASA confirms that its standing by its decision to continue with the lock-out until its demands, namely a new entry level wage on the lowest levels and a completely revised exemption system, are sufficiently dealt with. NEASA, representing 3000 employers in the Metal Industry, also do not agree on the 10% wage increase.

 

NEASA Media Department