Johannesburg - Lafarge South Africa, which last week dismissed about 150 of its employees, has refuted accusations by Cosatu that the cement and building materials producer is arrogant and engages in union bashing.
The employees were dismissed after they embarked on an illegal strike and ignored two written ultimatums to return to work after allegedly downing tools to demand the reinstatement of the National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM’s) national full time shop steward, who has been suspended for contravening company policy.
Cosatu claimed Lafarge SA attempted to forcefully relocate the full time shop stewards from Lichtenburg to its head office so the company could “exploit members of NUM” and is demanding company to implement an agreement on a housing subsidy and closing the wage gap.
Lafarge SA said in a statement on Monday that the accusations by Cosatu were unfortunate because they were contrary to the company’s persistent and unrelenting attempts over the years, including recently, to engage the NUM to reach agreements on issues raised by our employees.
The company stressed that it believed in collective bargaining and the right to strike but these existed within a framework of law that unions must equally respect.
It said it continued to engage in talks with NUM and wanted to resolve the outstanding issues related to wage gaps and the housing support programme as soon as possible.
“However, it is regrettable that there has been a delay in concluding these issues due to the company having to handle the matter of some NUM-affiliated employees who participated in illegal work stoppages several times in the last few weeks.
“This illegal action left Lafarge with no choice but to issue the approximately 150 employees with letters of dismissal on July 8 2016 after they ignored two written ultimatums and requests to return to work.
“Management continues to be prepared to discuss any concerns with employees but can unfortunately not condone illegal behaviour nor actions that undermine the company’s policies and procedures,” it said.
The company said last week it had act to protect its non striking workers who were being threatened, harassed, intimidated and in some cases physically assaulted.
Lafarge SA added that it continued to engage the Bodibe Tribal Council and had presented a plan to the council that proposed activities the company would undertake to benefit the entire community.
It said the company’s proposals were on social labour plans for the community, including a concise rental proposal for the surface rights mining.
“Lafarge awaits the tribal council’s feedback so that an agreement can be signed for plans to be implemented to benefit the community,” the company said.
Business Report