Transnet has once again stabbed the United National Transport Union (UNTU) in the back.
On Friday 3 March 2017 Transnet unilaterally distributed an e-mail, to its employees to inform them about the joint task team, which has been established to deal with employees affected by Transnet’s decision to enforce Festive Season leave in 2015.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says according to an agreement between UNTU and Transnet the state-owned enterprise (SOE) undertook to submit the e-mail to the Union for approval before sending it out. This was never done despite several phone calls to various managers at Transnet to remind them of the terms of the agreement.
The establishment of the task team had to be done to give effect to an order of the Labour Court in Johannesburg in favour of UNTU.
Judge Connie Prinsloo ruled in November last year 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 to January 2016 Festive Season.
According to the judgement UNTU and Transnet must set up a task team, comprising of equal numbers of representatives, from both parties to determine the identity of the affected employees.
Affected employees have 30 days as of 3 March 2017 until 1 April 2017 to file written submissions to the task team. Harris says the task team must assess the submissions and take a final decision on the appropriate relief for the affected employees by 1 May 2017.
Harris warned, Judge Prinsloo ruled that affected employees who do not file written submissions in the prescribed period, will forfeit the right to do so.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) did apply to become party to the court proceedings at the eleventh hour. Judge Prinsloo dismissed Satawu’s application.
Issued on behalf of UNTU by Sonja Carstens, Media and Liaison Officer. For UNTU Press Releases e-mail sonja@untu.co.za or phone 082 463 6806.
