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Transnet suspends lock-out of striking Numsa workers

Transnet suspends lock-out of striking Numsa workers

Photo by reuters

10th June 2014

By: Natalie Greve

Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

  

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Freight logistics group Transnet has, “on humanitarian grounds”, temporarily suspended the lockout of striking employees at its Ngqura container terminal, in the Eastern Cape, after some striking workers volunteered to abandon the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa- (Numsa-) led strike.

This followed appeals from a “significant number” of the 100 striking workers to the company to allow them to abandon the industrial action, which had now entered its seventh week.

Transnet said in a statement on Tuesday that it would suspend the lockout on striking workers for a prescribed period of only 24 hours – starting at 06:00 on June 11 and ending at 06:00 on June 12 – but warned that it would reinstate the lockout on those who failed to return to work within the specified period.

The grace period applied to Transnet employees only.

“We are aware of the devastating impact the strike has had on our colleagues and their families, especially on their finances. In line with our commitment to being a caring employer and responsible citizen, management considered and agreed to the request from a group of our colleagues who wished to abandon the Numsa strike and return to work,” the group stated.

To facilitate the reintegration of the strikers into the teams, Transnet added that it had organised compulsory counselling sessions for those wishing to return to work as well as those who were not on strike.

No striking employees would be allowed to return without attending a counselling session.

“This is essential, given the violence and intimidation that [has] characterised the Numsa strike,” the company held. 

Ruling in favour of Transnet, the Labour Court on Friday ordered Numsa and its members to immediately cease all “acts of violence, intimidation and lawlessness” against nonstriking workers at Ngqura.

The group sought to interdict Numsa after homes belonging to Transnet workers were petrol-bombed in the early hours of Friday morning, while two vehicles, also belonging to nonstriking workers, were torched in allegedly coordinated attacks.

Transnet has exercised its right to apply the no work, no pay principle since the start of the strike.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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