Numsa joins public service strike

Numsa questions its direction ahead of congress

Lunch-time protests by National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members will take place on Friday in support of striking public servants. Mziwakhe Hlangani, the union spokesperson, said the union's 220 000 members had been called upon to hold demonstrations in their factories country-wide.

Picketing for an hour over lunch-time was expected. By Monday, the union expected to have sought legal advice on other forms of solidarity action and possible secondary strikes. "We need legal opinion on whether we can consider secondary strike action in support of the public service," Hlangani said. The solidarity action was to "ensure" that government and public service unions reach a resolution, he said.

"We will continue to support public service unions in times of distress until government and labour negotiators return to the negotiations table and engage in good-faith with the intention to resolve the impasse."

Public service unions have been on strike since last Friday over deadlocked negotiations with government over wages and working conditions. - Sapa