Today's Labour News

The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) intends to seek a solution at the Labour Court to the impasse between the union and Putco bus operator.

Roughly 120 members affiliated to Numsa, and employed by Putco, were suspended following an unprotected strike in 2022 over a wage dispute. According to reports, the suspended workers are subjected to undignified conditions, including a lack of access to decent toilets at the company’s depots. Numsa’s Irvin Jim said the union had met Putco management on Tuesday in an attempt to end the dispute, however, they were unable to find one another. Lindokuhle Xulu, Putco spokesperson, dismissed accusations of management mistreating the suspended employees, saying bus management faced the situation that workers were repeatedly absent from hearings. According to Jim, Putco was demanding that arbitration hearings conducted at the CCMA should be concluded by 5 April, failing which workers would not be paid their salaries while on suspension. “We will not be bullied into submission by lawyers. Putco is threatening to take us to court to force us to reduce the number of witnesses in the disciplinary hearing but we are ready to defend our members and their right to a fair trial,” Jim stated. The union’s demands include that workers who are currently on suspension for the 2022 unprotected strike not be compelled to report daily to the bus operator’s depot and that the 14 workers dismissed for taking sick leave be immediately reinstated. Xulu indicated: “Both parties had agreed the process of hearings would be undertaken expeditiously. However, Putco is of the view that Numsa’s suggestion that the hearings be concluded by November 2024, is unreasonable.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Goitsemang Matlhabe at The Star
• Read too, Numsa threatens Putco with court action after wildcat strike, at BusinessLive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page