NUMSA Regional Secretary Jerry Morulane
By Jerry Morulane
NUMSA Regional Secretary Hlanganani
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) met with the board of Denel at their offices in Centurion.
The purpose of the meeting was to find a way forward on the issue regarding the implementation of a 7% wage increase.
Workers at Denel spent the duration of the meeting picketing outside in order to highlight their demands.
The meeting was attended by the executive management, the board and recognized unions.
Earlier in the year, executives at Denel approved a 7% wage increase and communicated that decision to employees.
However, the board intervened and reversed the decision, and they unilaterally implemented a 4% increase for the 2025/26 financial year, instead.
NUMSA members have rejected the proposal of 4% because the last time workers received an increase was in 2019.
Furthermore, during lockdown, many SOE’s were restructured under the leadership of the former minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan.
During that time, as part of the plan to ‘save Denel’, workers endured many months without any kind of salary.
Many of them lost assets, and even homes. Others were forced to take their children out of school.
The financial distress caused so much misery, that unfortunately, it is alleged that two employees passed away due to suicide.
Workers at Denel feel that they suffered to save the entity, and they feel justified in demanding a wage increase.
They are struggling with the cost of living and they feel it is time for the State Owned Entity to give them what is due to them.
The acting board chairperson Ms. Gloria Serobe explained that Denel cannot afford to implement a 7% wage increase because it would be unsustainable in the long term.
She said the entity can afford to implement a 4% increase.
After extensive negotiations, it was agreed by all parties that a Task Team or ‘War room’ would be established to find a sustainable way to fund the increase.
The task team has been established to look at the practicality of the successful implementation of the corporate plan, which shall in turn, assist in funding the increase demanded by workers.
The Task Team will meet on Friday 27 June to map a way forward.