Tshwane gets order against workers

The Johannesburg Labour Court has granted the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department an order prohibiting its workers from going on an illegal strike, the municipality said on Friday.

 

Spokesman for the Tshwane metro police, Console Tleane said the interdict was against the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), and the members of the Tshwane metro police who had been on an unprotected strike since the beginning of the month. The officers embarked on an unprotected strike complaining about a new shift system which came into effect on May 1.

 

Acting Judge Connie Prinsloo ruled that the strike by the members must be interdicted. Tshwane metro police management had argued in their papers that the strike was illegal as there was no stipulated 48-hour notice served on the municipality of the intention to embark on a strike. "The strike was also illegal because metro police work is classified as an essential service," said Tleane.

 

The court order was issued with immediate effect. "The court also ruled that the parties must return on the 8 May 2013, on which date the unions will be given an opportunity to provide arguments on why the interim order should not be made final," Tleane said. Meanwhile, Tshwane metro police chief Steven Ngobeni issued an ultimatum to all members on strike to return to work by Monday, 6 May. 

 

-Sapa