Johannesburg - Transnet had temporarily lifted its lockout at the Ngqura container terminal so that striking workers who wanted to return to work could do so, the company said yesterday.
“This follows pleas from a significant number of the just over 100 colleagues on strike for the company to allow them to abandon the industrial action,” acting chief executive of the facility Sharla Pillay said.
The lifting of the lockout at the terminal outside Port Elizabeth would last for 24 hours only, from 6am today to 6am tomorrow.
“The grace period applies to Transnet employees only. Transnet will reinstate the lockout on those who fail to return to work within the specified period,” she said.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has been on strike for over six weeks at the terminal over transport allowances, working hours for particular tasks, and the use of labour brokers.
National spokesman Castro Ngobese said Transnet’s claims were a desperate attempt to send false information to Numsa’s members.
“This is the worst form of Nazi propaganda on the part of Transnet. It is part of their desperate attempt to send a false message that our members are pie in the sky, while the opposite is true,” he said.
“As Numsa, we are forging ahead with our strike action. Transnet is trying to play political games. The strike action can only be called off by our members once Transnet has agreed to our demands.”
Numsa was prepared to negotiate to find an amicable solution, he said, but none of its members would return to work until their demands were met.
Pillay said Transnet was aware of the devastating impact the strike was having on workers and their families, which had led to the lockout being temporarily lifted.
Striking workers would only be able to return to work once Numsa withdrew its demands, and accepted Transnet’s lockout demands.
Transnet had exercised its right to apply the no-work, no-pay principle since the strike began, she said.
On Friday, Transnet said the Labour Court had granted an interdict ordering Numsa and its members to stop strike-related violence and intimidating non-striking workers. Ngobese said allegations that Numsa was responsible for the violence were unfounded. - Sapa