A date has been appointed for the first meeting for the Joint Task Team to decide on the submissions of the affected Transnet employees by the December 2015/January 2016 forced leave issue. The date and venue that has been confirmed is the 14th of June 2017 at the Transnet Bargaining Council.
“The Union had to threaten Transnet with an approach to the Labour Court in Johannesburg for a contempt of court order against the company to get them to set a date,” says John Pereira, Acting General Secretary of the United National Transport Union (UNTU).
This comes after Transnet neglected to adhere to the terms of the court ruling on the Festive Leave Dispute that was granted in favour of UNTU last year.
Judge Connie Prinsloo ruled that Transnet breached the terms of a collective agreement, when it unilaterally forced employees in low operational divisions to take leave over the December 2015/ January 2016 Festive Season.
Affected employees had to submit their written submissions by the 3rd of April 2017 to the Joint Task Team consisting of equal representatives of UNTU and Transnet.
According to the judgement of the Joint Task Team that had to assess the written submissions and had to take a final decision on the appropriate relief within 30 days after the expiry of the period within which to file a written submission. The 30 days had lapsed on the 3rd of May 2017.
“Transnet ignored UNTU’s repeated requests to set a date for the Joint Task Team to meet,” says Pereira.
For more information phone Pereira on 079 501 6883.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Statements phone 082 463 6806 or e-mail sonja@untu.co.za
