TMG Digital reports that abattoir workers who were dismissed after allegedly refusing to work 18-hour shifts to process 850 carcasses a day are taking their case to the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) on Tuesday.  

Robertson Abattoir locked out and dismissed them in November 2010‚ saying they were let go for "absenteeism" and "insubordination" after disciplinary proceedings.  The workers‚ members of the Commercial Stevedoring Agricultural and Allied Workers’ Union‚ want the LAC in Cape Town to set aside a decision by the Labour Court to dismiss their application for unfair dismissal.  The Socio-Economic Rights Institute of SA (Seri)‚ a non-profit human rights organisation‚ is representing the workers in the case.  The workers had argued in the Labour Court that their dismissal was unfair because they refused to work long hours in "oppressive working conditions" for R300 to R400 a week.

• Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at BDLive
• See too, Locked out and then dismissed for refusing to work 18 hours a day, at City Press

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page