Illegal strike resolved at MBSA

"Talks between company management and the union continued today [Monday 20 May], resulting in Numsa [National Union of Metalworkers of SA] officials calling for workers to return to work," spokesman Lynette Skriker said.

"Scheduled production will resume on Tuesday 21 May," she added.

She said the company would not exercise its court interdict against the protest.

"We commend Numsa's leadership for the quick resolution of the issue, which curtailed the impact of Friday's industrial action and allows us to maintain investor confidence," she added.

Mercedes-Benz said workers at its East London plant participated in an unprotected strike on Friday (17 May).

"The company has established that the strike was a result of a decision by the company to investigate work stoppages in its paintshop on 14 May," said Skriker.

"Prior to Friday's unprocedural strike, there has been no major industrial action based on labour relations at the plant for over 20 years."

She said Mercedes had a "long and proud history" of a positive relationship with Numsa.

Pickets degenerate into protests

The union's national treasurer Mphumzi Maqungo said it would uphold the court's decision. Earlier, he said lunch-hour pickets had degenerated into a protest, following provocation by the company.

"The strike action was imposed on them (the workers) after serious provocation and threats by the employer to subject all workers to a kangaroo court style of disciplinary processes for picketing," said Maqungo.

"We will never allow our members to be bullied for exercising their democratic right to embark on a picket," he added.

Maqungo said the union fully supported the demands of its members. "We call on the management to re-open doors of engagement in order to settle the dispute," he said.

Earlier, the Daily Dispatch reported the car manufacturer would approach the court if its 1,600 workers did not return to work by the end of Monday.

The strike came amid tensions about the company's mooted plans to outsource its logistics department, which it said were not finalised.

There was also contention regarding the workers' transport allowances, according to a Numsa statement.

"We strongly believe that these legitimate demands can be resolved or addressed by Mercedes-Benz, given the fact that these demands are a dominant and fundamental feature of our collective bargaining agreements," said Numsa.

The union's leadership was in discussion with the workers on Monday afternoon in a bid to decide on the next course of action.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge