Trouble is brewing at East London’s Lear Corporation plant, a major supplier of parts to Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA), as 89 recently dismissed workers fight for reinstatement.The workers allege they were dismissed via an SMS text message.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa general secretary Irvin Jim accused Lear Corporation of “ill treatment by a company which wants to maximise profits at the expense of its workers”.
Jim flew to East London to support the 89 workers dismissed in December, who were prevented from going back to work yesterday.
Lear Corporation, which supplies car seats to MBSA, dismissed the 89 on December 17 after they took part in a protest over an allegedly late bonus payment.
“This company attacks the hard-won gains of the workers to maximise their profits. They dismiss these employees to get new people who will get new rates. These workers also want better rates. This ill treatment of workers must stop,” said Jim.
Jim, who met with the workers outside the plant’s main entrance, told them he was at the plant to negotiate with the company for their return to work.
“We are here for three things: to negotiate to get you to work, if that will happen or not we will see; to look to see that the matter has been sent to the bargaining council; and to make sure the company does not continue to dismiss workers.
“We will see if they say we must look for a nearest cliff to jump off,” said Jim.
On November 27, the workers protested when the company said they would only get their bonuses on December 11, three days after the company was due to close for the year, and not December 4, as they said was previously promised.
Workers said the three-hour stand-off on November 27 was a success as their bonuses were paid on December 4 – but that it cost them their jobs.
On December 17, the 89 protestors received text messages from the company’s human resources manager, AH Makile, dismissing them.
Makile texted: “We have considered your written submissions and it is our view that there is no merit to them.
“In light of this, we wish to confirm that your services have been terminated from today 17 December 2015. You have a right to appeal within 3 days from today.”
The union’s representative, Mteteleli Tshete, declined to comment, saying Jim was attending to the matter.
Yesterday, Lear Corporation’s East London plant manager, Kevin Scott, said the company would not be able to comment.
In February last year, Lear Corporation workers downed tools demanding the company pay them salaries on a par with those of 2013, after the company slashed their pay by half. Workers also demanded that labour brokers be removed and medical aid deductions stopped.
Yesterday, the workers said some workers recently employed through the services of a labour broker were getting paid only R29 an hour while Lear Corporation employees were getting R62 an hour.
Jim told the Dispatch that he wanted a full-day meeting this week with the workers to discuss many issues arising out of what was happening inside the plant.
“These dismissed workers will need to get the support of those who are currently at work. We will discuss a number of issues, including what the company had to say about these dismissals,” said Jim.
A workers’ meeting is scheduled for this weekend in East London. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Jim weighs in on Lear dismissals
The workers allege they were dismissed via an SMS text message.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa general secretary Irvin Jim accused Lear Corporation of “ill treatment by a company which wants to maximise profits at the expense of its workers”.
Jim flew to East London to support the 89 workers dismissed in December, who were prevented from going back to work yesterday.
Lear Corporation, which supplies car seats to MBSA, dismissed the 89 on December 17 after they took part in a protest over an allegedly late bonus payment.
“This company attacks the hard-won gains of the workers to maximise their profits. They dismiss these employees to get new people who will get new rates. These workers also want better rates. This ill treatment of workers must stop,” said Jim.
Jim, who met with the workers outside the plant’s main entrance, told them he was at the plant to negotiate with the company for their return to work.
“We are here for three things: to negotiate to get you to work, if that will happen or not we will see; to look to see that the matter has been sent to the bargaining council; and to make sure the company does not continue to dismiss workers.
“We will see if they say we must look for a nearest cliff to jump off,” said Jim.
On November 27, the workers protested when the company said they would only get their bonuses on December 11, three days after the company was due to close for the year, and not December 4, as they said was previously promised.
Workers said the three-hour stand-off on November 27 was a success as their bonuses were paid on December 4 – but that it cost them their jobs.
On December 17, the 89 protestors received text messages from the company’s human resources manager, AH Makile, dismissing them.
Makile texted: “We have considered your written submissions and it is our view that there is no merit to them.
“In light of this, we wish to confirm that your services have been terminated from today 17 December 2015. You have a right to appeal within 3 days from today.”
The union’s representative, Mteteleli Tshete, declined to comment, saying Jim was attending to the matter.
Yesterday, Lear Corporation’s East London plant manager, Kevin Scott, said the company would not be able to comment.
In February last year, Lear Corporation workers downed tools demanding the company pay them salaries on a par with those of 2013, after the company slashed their pay by half. Workers also demanded that labour brokers be removed and medical aid deductions stopped.
Yesterday, the workers said some workers recently employed through the services of a labour broker were getting paid only R29 an hour while Lear Corporation employees were getting R62 an hour.
Jim told the Dispatch that he wanted a full-day meeting this week with the workers to discuss many issues arising out of what was happening inside the plant.
“These dismissed workers will need to get the support of those who are currently at work. We will discuss a number of issues, including what the company had to say about these dismissals,” said Jim.
A workers’ meeting is scheduled for this weekend in East London. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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