Cape Town — The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) confirmed that its workers reached an agreement with Ford South Africa that saw more than 3 000 workers return to work on Friday morning.
The workers began striking on 4 July as they felt they deserved their fair share of Ford’s profits, in addition to their performance bonuses. The Labour Court declared the strike unlawful and unprotected.
NUMSA and Ford were engaged in behind-the-scenes negotiations for the past week and the two parties came to an agreement that all workers would be able to return to work and would face no disciplinary sanction for those who participated in the strike. All workers returned on Friday 12 July, it said in a statement.
“In addition, NUMSA also negotiated that Ford pays workers R20 000 for each worker as a deadlock-breaking mechanism and to pay these monies as soon as possible following the return of workers to the workplace.” NUMSA spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, said.
NUMSA has negotiated for striking workers @FordSouthAfrica to return to work. NUMSA also secured a R20K deadlock-breaking payment to be paid to each worker at Ford and there will be no disciplinary sanction for those who participating in the strike. Details below👇🏾
❤️🖤💛@IrvinJimSA pic.twitter.com/2luBG9M53z— NUMSA (@Numsa_Media) July 11, 2024
NUMSA is of the view that an important foundation has been laid down for the workers at Ford to share the profits within companies to create an equitable society and eradicate the idea that wealthy businessmen succeed at the expense of the hard workers.
According to IOL, Ford was happy to welcome its workers back but it did not regard the aforementioned bonus as a form of profit-sharing. Ford SA leadership has previously warned that disruptions such as these can have a highly detrimental effect on the company’s ability to secure new export contracts in the future.
“The Numsa dispute with Ford South Africa, which started on July 4, has been amicably concluded. Striking employees are scheduled to return to work on Friday, July 12, to resume normal Ranger production operations at the Silverton Assembly Plant,” Ford said.
However, NUMSA maintained that it was a step in the right direction.
“This is a victory for workers! As a union, we believe that the working class must benefit from the profits that are generated because workers create wealth. It would not have been possible if our members had not been united in their demands,” NUMSA general secretary, Jim Irvin, said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
