The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) was formed in 1987 and is the biggest trade union of metalworkers in South Africa with more than 338,000 members. NUMSA’s Principles
• Non-racialism – to be strong we need to organise all workers. The employers used apartheid to divide workers. Numsa tries to break down the division between white and black workers and build unity.
• Democr
acy and worker control – in every structure we have a majority of workers to make sure that workers make the decisions and not officials; members elect their representatives, called shopstewards.
• Unity of metalworkers and all workers in South Africa and internationally – we need one union in the metal industry in South Africa so we can act as one against employers locally and internationally and to put united pressure on government. Numsa’s long term vision is of a united South Africa where the minority will no longer exploit and oppress the majority. For many, this is the socialism that we are still striving for. An organised and united working class must make sure we achieve this goal. All this for just 1% of your basic wage! But Numsa can only be as strong as its members. Workers divided are weak. Metalworkers unite – join Numsa now!
