Timeslive reports that although on Friday the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) was granted a certificate of non-resolution to strike at Transnet over union recognition‚ the parties are still in talks about the dispute.
"We will first engage our members to get a mandate. We would prefer a meeting with the transport minister and board first before resorting to this course of action. In a strike, the ‘no work‚ no pay’ principle applies. Our members don’t get paid during a strike and therefore we must exhaust all options before going on strike‚" Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said. She indicated that the union wanted to protest against Transnet’s refusal to recognise them. Among other things‚ "it disciplined and suspended over a hundred of our members in Bloemfontein for daring to wear Numsa regalia". Hlubi-Majola commented: "This is a case we are fighting and it will be heard by the labour court on June 25. The management at Transnet is shamelessly attacking workers by violating their right to freedom of association and undermining their right to free speech."
- A short report by Kgaugelo Masweneng is at BusinessLive (scroll down to bottom of report)
- See too, Transnet blocking union recognition, says Numsa, on page 5 of Afro Voice of 11 June 2018
Read Numsa’s press statement in this regard at Numsa News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page