Numsa joins forces with US auto union

THEY may be two unions on opposite sides of the globe, but the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the US’s United Auto Workers (UAW) are united by one cause — to challenge for union recognition at Nissan’s Mississippi assembly plant.

Yesterday, Numsa joined a UAW campaign to call for, among other things, union recognition from the US assembly plant.

Numsa recently took issue with Nissan in SA. Its members refused to work overtime at the group’s Rosslyn plant near Pretoria. The matter is still under discussion by Numsa and Nissan.

American actor and activist Danny Glover headed the UAW delegation as the ambassador of the campaign.

“We are here on an important global campaign. Mississippi may be miles away, but represents the campaign of workers around the world. It’s an important campaign as capital has globalised but workers’ rights are often stepped on in the process,” Mr Glover said.

US media also reported recently that the Japanese manufacturer received subsidies of $1.3bn, but failed to deliver on expected high-wage jobs.

Mr Glover said he had met President Jacob Zuma briefly during his stay in SA.

He said he also had the opportunity to speak to Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel.

UAW president Bob King said the campaign was not about promoting unions, but promoting the dignity of workers in Mississippi.

Numsa president Cedric Gina said the campaign reminded Numsa that during the struggle against apartheid, the UAW was “sensitising Americans about the evils of apartheid”.

“In the next few days of meeting with workers and South Africans, you will hear for yourself that the freedom you helped us to gain in 1994 has not translated to economic freedom,” Mr Gina said. “Greed from multinationals like Nissan has used the stability that came with the democratic breakthrough to amass profits for their shareholders elsewhere in the world.”