Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity announced on Wednesday that it had submitted warrants of execution, worth some R90-million, against state-owned defence industrial group Denel to the sheriff of the court.

This followed Denel’s failure to abide by a Labour Court order and pay, by 8 March, union members in its employ a total of R90-million in back salaries. While the union recognised that the company was under financial stress, it rejected the notion that Denel did not have the means to pay its workers. Solidarity argued that the funds that Denel did have should be “mobilised and prioritised” to pay its workers, some of whom had gone for two years without being paid their full, or indeed any, salaries. If Denel did not do so, it could be charged with deliberate contempt of a court order. “It is unacceptable that ordinary workers have to forfeit their livelihoods simply because of the ineptitude and incompetence of this company’s top management. This is intolerable and must be opposed. If Denel does not want to pay, we will have its assets seized. After all, Denel has already taken away too much from our members," Solidarity defence and aviation sector coordinator Derek Mans commented.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
• Read Solidarity’s press statement in regard to this matter at Solidarity News
• Lees ook, Denel betaal toe nie R90 miljoen vir salarisse, by Maroela Media

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