The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) is being opportunistic again, in an attempt to gain recognition within the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), although they understand that they don’t represent enough members to exist as part of the PRASA Bargaining Committee.
NUMSA’s latest desperate attempt to get its foot in the door of PRASA, comes after the Union got mud on their faces last year at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) when it tried in vain to get organisational rights within Transnet.
Today NUMSA wanted the CCMA in Johannesburg to hear its plea to be recognised within PRASA. The Union did not site UNTU, the majority union in PRASA and Transnet, or the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (SATAWU), as interested parties in the matter.
PRASA stated that UNTU and SATAWU were the only two recognised Union parties to the recognition agreement.
Neels Haasbroek, Deputy General Secretary of UNTU, says the Commissioner of the CCMA agreed that UNTU and SATAWU should be included in the proceedings. UNTU objected to a continuation of the proceedings because it did not have the opportunity to study NUMSA’s application beforehand.
The case is postponed till 21 February so that all parties can be present and prepared.
NUMSA needs a membership of 25% in PRASA to comply with the threshold of the PRASA Bargaining Committee.
In the Transnet case last year, the CCMA found that NUMSA and NTM simply did not qualify to be recognised by the Transnet Bargaining Council as these Unions did not represent a membership of 30% each.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
