NUMSA welcomes Labour Court ruling in favour of SA Steel Mills workers

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Mongezi Koko

JOHANNESBURG - The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has welcomed a Labour Court judgement preventing SA Steel Mills from imposing disciplinary action against striking workers.

One-hundred-and-sixty-two employees were suspended last month after taking part in a strike.

NUMSA says the strike was protected and the company was only granted an interim interdict to block another demonstration that was planned for later in the month.

The union said SA Steel Mills set up a sham disciplinary process that has already found the suspended workers guilty.

"It is unfair for SA Steel Mills to discipline and attempt to dismiss workers over this when the courts have not pronounced on it," said NUMSA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola.

Hlubi-Majola revealed the terms of the order handed down by the Labour Court.

"The bosses at SA Steel Mills are not allowed to proceed with any more disciplinary hearings and they are prevented from implementing any findings from the hearings until the matter of the legality of the strike has been ventilated in court."

The legality of the strike is set to be determined at the Labour Court on Thursday.