Workers not on strike: Samwu

Workers at waste management company Pikitup were not on strike but merely holding a meeting and singing outside the company's head  office, their union said on Monday.

   

"There has been a misunderstanding on the side of management, who said the workers were on strike... they held a meeting with the union and later sang slogans outside the building," SA Municipal Workers' Union spokesman Tahir Sema said.

   

Most of the employees would return to their workplaces.

   

"We will attempt to resolve these issues with management as soon as possible. If management agrees, we will be meeting them in the coming weeks to finalise workers' legitimate workplace concerns."

   

Pikitup said earlier on Monday that only a fraction of their workers turned up for work in the morning.

   

Most of them were demonstrating outside the company's headquarters, spokeswoman Desiree Ntshingila said.

   

At the weekend the company obtained a court interdict to stop the strike, which it considered illegal.

   

Ntshingila said they would meet with unions on Monday afternoon.

   

Workers' grievances included the implementation of biometric access control, breathalyser tests for drivers, and transport for workers.

   

In a statement on Sunday, Pikitup said the current transport system for workers was not sustainable and a new solution was needed.

  

"Previously, Pikitup employees requiring transportation were picked up and dropped off at central points on a daily basis, using Pikitup trucks," managing director Amanda Nair said in a statement.

   

Sema said workers were not happy with Pikitup's biometric clock-in system and the apparent lack of consultation about its implementation.

   

"Workers want the employer to provide travel arrangements, and they are not happy that the management took away the half-day off they were given once a month, as a result of overtime work."

 

-Sapa