Judge Christina Prinsloo of the Labour Court in Johannesburg today refused to hear the United National Transport Union (UNTU) urgent application to interdict Transnet Soc Limited from forcing some of its employees to take compulsory leave in December 2016.
Prinsloo said that she has been allocated Transnet’s application to review and set aside the arbitration award about the 2015 December leave that was granted in UNTU’s favour. Transnet’s application will be heard on 31 October 2016.
According to the Judge it will save the court time if both applications are heard on the same date. There were four other matters on her court roll and she removed UNTU’s application in spite of the Unions legal team objecting to her decision.
Prinsloo undertook to give her judgement speedily as she realises that both UNTU members and Transnet needs to know what their fate will be the coming Festive Season.
UNTU will ask the court to prohibit Transnet to proceed forcing its employees to take 13 days’ annual leave in December 2016 and to make an arbitration award of the Transnet Bargaining Council on the leave dispute of 2015, an order of the Court.
The Union had no choice to bring an urgent application after Transnet decided to re-implement its revised leave policy knowing that the award was awarded in favour of UNTU and that their appeal against it is still pending.
SATAWU came to court today to jump unto the UNTU bandwagon after realizing that they have done nothing to protect the interest of their members. SATAWU cannot join the court proceedings by joining Transnet review application as they were not a party to the initial dispute.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says SATAWU may join the review application as a friend of the court to point out the devastating effect of Transnet’s unilateral decision on its members.
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.
