Numsa to consult lawyers over General Motors withdrawal
The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) says it will consult its lawyers following the announcement that General Motors (GM) will be withdrawing from South Africa.
General Motors outlined its respective future plans for the Isuzu, Chevrolet and Opel brands in the country, subject to local regulatory requirements, to the media in Port Elizabeth this morning.
GM intends to cease local manufacturing and selling Chevrolet vehicles in the domestic market by the end of 2017.
The move will affect 1500 jobs.
Numsa's Irvin Jim says the vast majority of employees are Numsa members.
"As a trade union we are surprised that GM chose to convey this announcement in this way. There was no consultation with the union, and furthermore, the company has not divulged any details about the fate of its employees affected by this restructuring," says Jim.
"By shutting down operations in South Africa this will have a major impact not just on GM plants, but for companies along the value chain as well."
Jim says this is the second time that GM is pulling out of South Africa.
He says he smells a rat.
"We suspect that the shareholders got a very good deal at the expense of the workers. The company has already shut down the plant and has indicated that they will meet with us to discuss the latest developments, but that is after the fact," says Jim.
Jim says he is aware that GM has made it clear that it is disinvesting in South Africa.
"We will also probe whether this is not an agenda by the car company to dump the remainder of its cars on the South African market," says Jim.
"If they proceed with dumping, we will take up a campaign to prevent them in light of the fact that they are disinvesting in the country."