ANA reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Friday ruled in favour of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), dismissing an urgent application by employers to interdict a strike in the plastics industry.  

This came after more than 10,000 Numsa members on Monday embarked on a strike to demand improved wages and working conditions in the sector.  The strike affected over 450 plastics companies nationally.  As a result, the Plastic Convertors of SA (PCSA) went to court to request an urgent interdict to block the strike on the basis that it was allegedly illegal.  Irvin Jim, Numsa's general secretary, said Friday's court judgment was the first victory in this battle, but the war was not won yet.  "We welcome the decision by the Labour Court which confirms that the strike in the plastics sector is a legal strike.  We condemn once again the attempts by employers in the plastics sector to silence our members and stop them from exercising the right to strike.  "In the meantime, we will be intensifying the strike.  All our regions will spend the next few days mobilizing all workers in the plastics sector.  This strike is a legally protected strike for all workers," said Jim.

• Read this report by Siphelele Dludla in full at Business Report

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