Choosing the right bargaining council or trade union in the motor industry

Hello Peter 09 December 2021 I have been working in the Motor Industry since December 2009 and have been a paid subscription member of Misa Union since said date. Trade unions exist to protect members employment interest and rights. Members often pay subscriptions for the organizations professional support and may sometimes rely on their advise on important work related matters such as employment disputes, pensions, sick leave funds payouts and health and safety issues.

In my case with Misa’s negligence I have incurred financial losses and I have received negligent advise as well as refusal from their representatives to represent me in disputes relating to the terms of my employment and other work related issues.

There was failure to provide services to a legally acceptable standard on 5 occasions. I have suffered at the hand of the employer and had to seek external assistance from the CCMA as a result of Misa refusing to assist me as all their employees advised that they have a very good relationship with my company’s HR Management.

I have communicated with the following members at Misa on the following dates: Nomvula Kabila on 18 September 2019 who referred me to Ngoni Goba who failed to represent me on 12 September 2019. I had to represent myself in the grievance 1 process and when the manager persisted to aggrieve me I filed the second grievance whereby I called Misa again seeking their assistance whereby Tumi Ntshekang refused to sit in on a zoom call with myself and HR on 29 September 2020 when I lodged the second grievance against the abusive manager for victimization. I then spoke with Bertha Denichaud on ***0 as the victimization continued, I spoke with Anneke Venter who advised that I needed to get a petition signed as proof that I am not the only one being aggrieved by the manager on the ***0 which lead nowhere. The general manager suspended me from my employment during the first weeks of October 2020 so that they could line up witnesses to testify against me with petty and unfounded complaints against me.

I fell ill and was booked off sick from my employment from 18 October 2020 to 01 December 2020 which arose from work related stress and emotional trauma. The employer refused to pay me any sick leave days even though I had 11 sicks leave days due to me as per Desiree Geyser at the Sick and Accident Fund at Misa Union. She could not pay these funds over to me as my employer refused to complete and sign the necessary documents to release the funds to me. I ended up without a salary for the month of November 2020.

I lodged a grievance against the employer again for making unexplained deductions from my salary during September 2020 and October 2020 as well as no salary in November 2020 after my manager ignored emails, HR ignored my emails, I then spoke with Angelique Henning at the union and she spoke with the HR manager that she has a good relationship with and advised me after 1 week that that sorry the employer will not pay me the sick leave due to me and the previous deductions remains unexplained. I had to seek assistance from an attorney due to the run around Misa gave me. On 09 December 2020 I told Braam Cilliers the beginning to end of my experience with MISA, he advised that he would escalate the matter and get back to me as soon as possible, I did not hear from him since. Seven members of MISA refusing to assist me.

I owe this to members of the Motor Industry. Please know that your employer will add Misa as your preferred union without your consent as Misa works for your employer regardless of the fact that you are the subscription payer, they will not assist you when you need the assistance. Educate yourself and see for yourself on Youtube what NUMSA does for their members and change unions as soon as you can. Ask your Payroll officer for a resignation form for MISA and complete your application form for NUMSA and send both these forms together to your payroll officer because MISA is very cunning and it seems like they will give you more but they will not. MISA pays sick leave as follows 10 days at 100% and 5 days at 50%. NUMSA pays 15 days sicks leave at 75% which works out exactly the same. MISA seem professional on their brochures and on the internet but they in actual fact do nothing for you! MISA is the most pathetic union and they frustrate already frustrated members.