The Joint Task Team, consisting of members of the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and Transnet, will meet again on 4 and 5 October 2017 to decide on the outstanding submissions of the Transnet employees affected by the December 2015 January 2016 forced leave issue.
Judge Connie Prinsloo ruled in the Labour Court in Johannesburg 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 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. Each application had to be decided on its own merit and only employees who have proved that they were prejudiced by Transnet’s actions, would receive appropriate relief.
Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says in most of the cases where the employee proved they had been prejudiced, the Task Team has agreed leave must be credited to them. In some of the cases where employees had to take unpaid leave, the Joint Task Team decided the employer must compensate them.
Tumelo Mokwena, Acting Chief Human Resources of Transnet, confirmed to Labour at the Transnet Bargaining Council that no Bargaining Unit Employee will be forced, in any way whatsoever, to take leave during the upcoming Festive Season.
In a scenario where a Transnet Office is closed, and the employee/s do not wish to take leave, alternative arrangements will be made to accommodate these employees.
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
