“Following consideration of the issues giving rise to the intended protest action, and if no genuine settlement can be reached, Numsa intends to call upon all employees eligible to engage in protest action in terms of section 77 of the LRA to involve themselves in rallies, demonstrations, pickets,” the union said in a statement.

“Numsa calls for solidarity campaigns with civil society; and other forms of protest activity. Nedlac will be advised of the precise nature of the protest action and the dates upon which they will take place.”

Numsa is a former affiliate of the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu). The trade union federation announced on Thursday that it would embark on a full-blown strike against the Tax Administration Amendment Act, which President Jacob Zuma had recently signed into law.

Cosatu said it had started mobilising its members to push for the new law to be repealed. The law, which seeks to force workers to preserve their retirement savings, instead of withdrawing and spending it, is effective from March 1.

The tax law has drawn criticism, especially from organised labour, accusing the government of trying to restrict the poor access to their hard earned monies.

Numsa said retirement fund did not provide workers with adequate pensions when they retired.

“That is why workers have over many years made it clear through struggle that their choice was for a provident fund system which allowed them to choose whether to take all of their benefit or to use it for a pension. This is a far cry from this compulsory annunitisation system which government is seeking to introduce.”

ANA