Members of the National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) employed by the Putco bus company are opposing an application by the company for an exemption from Clause 24.1 of the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council’s Main Collective Agreement.
Putco are applying for an exemption to allow them to postpone payment of 50% of the agreed December 2016 bonus until the end of March 2017, “for financial reasons”.  Numsa argues that the company cannot argue that they are not able to pay 100% of the bonus at the agreed time “for financial reasons”, as it has been buying new buses recently, and that the delay will cause hardship to the employees.
The union is also opposing the introduction of a “new maintenance plan” without consulting the unions, and arguing that it must not be implemented until there has been formal consultation.
Numsa is recognised by the company, and has organisational rights, at their Soshanguve and Sandfontein depots, but they are refusing to give the same rights at their Roseville and Dobsonville depots, even though they are deducting union dues from workers at these depots.
So the union is applying, under Sections 12 and 14 of the Labour Relations Act, for full recognition at all these depots, of the rights contained in those sections, including the right of any office-bearer or official of a representative trade union to enter the employer’s premises in order to recruit members or communicate with members, or otherwise serve members’ interests and to hold meetings with employees outside their working hours at the employer’s premises.
Patrick Craven
Numsa Acting Spokesperson
061 636 6057