JOHANNESBURG - The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is calling for urgent action to address the growing crisis at SA Steel Mills and ArcelorMittal South Africa.
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The union says workers have been left to struggle through a prolonged business rescue process that has produced no meaningful progress.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said a "jobs bloodbath" is underway, influenced in part by related business expenses like energy costs.
NUMSA is also demanding a relief package for ArcelorMittal employees after the steel producer announced plans to shut down its Vereeniging and Newcastle plants.
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"We think that there is a benefit for the South African economy if we do not abandon smelters," Hlubi-Majola said.
The Numsa spokesperson said the union has demanded that the Industrial Development Corporation engage bidders to purchase ArcelorMittal SA.
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"IDC, as a stakeholder has an interest, IDC must take charge of the situation and must dictate what happens to ArcelorMittal SA. We have the right to do that. We have loaned Armsa billions and it's unfortunate that Armsa has treated workers shockingly," she said.