NUMSA fails to pay former national spokesperson Castro Ngobese
1 September 2016
Last week, Thursday, August 25, 2016, I approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), in relation to the non-payment by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa [Numsa] the agreed mutual settlement pay-out, reached on June 15, 2016.
I had opted for a pay-out after Numsa's representative Mr Lucky Stanley Skosana, affirmed that my relationship with Numsa and its leadership was irreconcilable, fractured and completely broken-down, and the only sensible way out was for me to accept their settlement offer. I accepted Numsa’s settlement offer in good faith, given my unwavering loyalty and dedication to Numsa and the struggles of its members on the shop floor in strategic sectors of the economy where the union organizes.
The settlement agreement stated categorically that Numsa should in writing no later than June 20, 2016, accept my resignation as its senior official. Secondly, Numsa should no later than July 1, 2016, pay what is due to me. Regrettably, the union has failed to honour the agreement. I consider this action as not just a breach of the agreement but in contempt of the CCMA.
I have been left with no alternative but to approach the CCMA to enforce the settlement. This could result in the embarrassing spectacle of the Sheriff attaching the removable assets of an workers organisation for failing to honour its obligations of an employee.