Johannesburg – The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) on Workers’ Day condemned SA Steel Mills for “its cruel and inhuman treatment of workers”.
“Over 200 workers were suspended whilst they were on shift in the early hours of Tuesday morning, (30 April 2024),” NUMSA said in a statement on Workers’ Day.
“This is not the first time that NUMSA members are exposing this company for flagrant abuses of workers’ rights.
“SA Steel Mills is notorious for creating an unsafe working environment.
“This time, the company has unfairly suspended workers who were on a protected strike.”
Narrating events leading to the workers being suspended, NUMSA National Spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said: “The management allowed them to clock in at 10 PM, made them work for four hours, only to inform them at 1 am that they have been suspended”.
Hlubi-Majola added: “They then proceeded to kick them out of the company premises at 1 AM, in the morning, because the company claimed they were trespassing.
“Management refused to provide them with any form of public transportation, and unfortunately, at that late hour, there is none.
“Our members chose to sleep in the locker rooms and the toilets of the company, rather than walk in the middle of the night, and risk walking in the middle of the night because it was dangerous.”
Hlubi-Majola said at the same time, there was a very heavy security presence which “we interpret” as an attempt to intimidate workers.
“NUMSA is disgusted by the conduct of SA Steel Mills management. They behave as if the labour laws do not exist.
“They make up the rules as they go along.”
NUMSA said it was likely that the steel company was aiming to dismiss these workers at the disciplinary hearing scheduled for Thursday, (2 May 2024) which is why they are rushing the process.
“They are clearly showing that they do not view workers as human beings,” said Hlubi-Majola.
“They are utterly shameless about kicking them out, with no regard for the possibility that they could be victims of crime from having to walk home in the middle of the night.
“It is ironic that whilst we are celebrating International Workers’ Day, this is how SA Steel Mills is conducting itself.
“SA Steel Mills is a modern-day example of what Apartheid in the workplace would have looked like.
“The management is backward and ignorant. They run the company like it is a spaza shop.”
SA Steel Mills could not be reached for comment on Workers’ Day.
Developing story…. comments from SA Steel Mills will be added ASAP.
