NUMSA Members: Support the dismissed 270 Karl Schmidt workers

Abstract

The German multi-national Karl Schmidt 1 dismissed 270 NUMSA members on 22nd July 1987. During May, three shop stewards were dismissed for calling a meeting on company premises. This meeting was held to get workers’ views on the 5-6 may stayaway called by progressive organisations in protest against the ‘white’ elections and the killings of SARHWU workers. After dismissing the shop stewards the company refused to reinstate them or agree to the arbitration of the dispute. The company refused NUMSA access to ballot its members for a legal strike after the expiry of the dispute resolving 30-day period. Instead, when workers elected a delegation to see management on 20 July 1987 to enquire about the situation, the company: 1. Brought the delegation before disciplinary hearings; 2. Fired a worker without a hearing on 21 July 1987; 3. Suspended a shop steward on the night- shift for six months on 21 July 1987; 4. Dismissed the entire nightshift on 21 July 1987 wh:(e workers were waiting in the canteen for management to address them; 5. Dismissed the entire dayshift on 22 July 1987 while workers were waiting for a report on the dismissal of the nightshift from the company. Karl Schmidt have always displayed racist, anti-union attitudes. Shop stewards have always been a particular target. During 1986 workers had to strike to get a shop steward reinstated after he was dismissed without a hearin