Automotive plant drags employees to court
Tumelo Mouwane | Friday June 9, 2017 16:24
On Wednesday, the company’s chief executive officer through the public relations unit released a statement to inform employees that the ‘illegal and unprotected’ strike has been taken to the Industrial Court and an order seeking the employees to show cause why the strike should not stop was issued. “On Friday June 2nd an isolated group of employees commenced an illegal and unprotected strike.
Notwithstanding the fact that the alleged dispute was referred to the labour commissioner, PASDEC tried to engage the employees in good faith all efforts to resolve the issues at hand has been refuted by employees.
PASDEC remains hopeful that the company and its employees can sit down for constructive discussions and we will always encourage the committee to return to the negotiating table. It is also worth noting that the company has approached the Industrial Court to interdict the illegal strike and we have obtained an order against the employees to show cause why they should not return to work,” part of the statement read.
At the Wednesday’s case hearing, the employees through their committee chairperson, Kabelo Phuthego insisted that the strike continues. “The strike will continue until tangible evidence is put before us to convince us that indeed our concerns have been given an ear,” Phuthego briefly said.
Last Thursday, Phuthego together with one Simon were dismissed from work after they allegedly held a mass meeting with the rest of the employees which the company’s administration did not condone.
The employees did not like what happened and downed tools demanding reinstatement of their fellow colleagues. The duo were reinstated on Monday, but the employees continued with the strike requesting that their concerns, which include among others low wages, overtime back pays and health issues within the plant, be addressed.
The strike was ongoing and entering its sixth day yesterday at the time of going for press. This is the third strike at PASDEC since January.
In the last strike the town leadership led by the district commissioner intervened to calm the situation down with employees agreeing to go back to work