It seems Transnet SOC Ltd has no respect for the ruling of the Labour Court in Johannesburg or for the collective agreements signed by it at the Transnet Bargaining Council.
The company blatantly disregarded a Labour Court ruling in favour of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) compelling it not to breach the principals of collective agreements relating to annual leave, but to adhere to it, says Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU.
“Transnet is malicious. Instead of acting in good faith and appealing the judgement handed down against it by Judge Christina Prinsloo, the company decided to cause havoc amongst employees providing them with wrong information about the leave issue.
“In communication to its employees Transnet indicated that they are aware of the judgement, but still the company does not refrain from enforcing employees to take leave,” Harris says.
According to him Transnet has deliberately played a game of “cat and mouse” with UNTU since Prinsloo ruled two weeks ago that it is not for the company to determine when leave should be taken because the collective agreement between it and UNTU makes no express provision that entitles Transnet to compel employees to take annual leave during shut down periods or periods when operational demands are low.
“It is clear that Transnet was simply stalling the matter knowing that UNTU will again approached the court if they continue to enforce leave to the detriment of our members,” says Harris.
UNTU will ask the Labour Court on Thursday 24 November 2016 to interdict Transnet from enforcing leave this Festive Season unless the meeting that is scheduled between UNTU and Management on 23 November 2016 at 08H00 resolves this burning matter amicably. The Union will also ask the Court to make a punitive cost order against Transnet.
For enquiries phone Harris on 082 566 5516.
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.
