Group Five works to end strike at pipeline project
JSE-listed construction firm Group Five was working with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), local authorities and State-owned Transnet to broker a solution to the strike by NUM members at the Transnet New Multi Product Pipeline Terminal One construction site, in Durban, the company said on Thursday.
The about 450 NUM members started the strike at the construction site on May 27, demanding the payment of a R10 000 project bonus, the reduction of Saturday working hours and the appointment of a full-time shop steward at Group Five.
"Our members are going to fight hard on the payment of the project bonus and we believe that Group Five can afford it. Our members are determined to strike at Group Five simply to deal with the company's arrogance," NUM KwaZulu-Natal regional coordinator Bhekani Ngcobo told Engineering News Online this week.
He said the union was flexible with regard to the timing of the payment of the bonus and that it would, therefore, not necessarily expect the bonus to be paid in one instalment.
With regard to the reduction in working hours, Ngcobo explained that the project employees currently worked until 17:00 on Saturdays, translating into a six-day work-week with “no time to rest”. Therefore, the union was demanding its workers knock off at 14:00 on Saturdays.
The strike involved 450 of the 1 050 waged employees on site, with suppliers and contractors not being affected.
Group Five stated that the impact of the industrial action on operations and the construction of the project was being assessed continuously.
“Both Group Five and Transnet recognise employees’ rights to engage in protected strike action and to picket peacefully. Measures have been taken to protect employees wishing not to join in the action or not affected by it as well as to protect property, plant and equipment at the site,” the company added.
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