This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has hailed a victory for justice and workers' rights, following a Labour Court ruling that prevented Goodyear from dismissing 54 employees.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the saga began on 31 May 2021 when the workers were dismissed following their refusal to comply with a controversial directive to work staggered breaks. “Management overreacted when employees rejected the instruction. Their refusal stemmed from genuine concerns about working conditions, leading to a dismissal that was not warranted,” she noted. The unfair dismissal case made its way through arbitration at the CCMA, with the initial outcome in June 2022 highlighting the flawed nature of the dismissals. Although the CCMA concluded that the workers had displayed insubordinate behaviour, it ruled that their conduct did not warrant such severe consequences as dismissal. Also, despite workers explicitly requesting union representation during the process, thus was denied, undermining the validity of the warnings issued against them. The CCMA ruling mandated their reinstatement. Goodyear then took the matter to the Labour Court, but Numsa again secured a favourable outcome for its members, with the Labour Court upholding the workers' right to be reinstated. Hlubi-Majola commented: “The Labour Court’s dismissal of Goodyear's application is a significant win for workers' rights. We have also been informed that Goodyear plans to appeal this decision. Should this occur, we stand ready to defend our members once more.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyabonga Sithole at The Star
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page