Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Hotels and resorts group Sun International said Wednesday that it is seeking an urgent interdict to prevent what it considers to be illegal strike action by staff of Sun City and its various service providers and concessionaires. The strike has been set for Thursday December 3.
The company said in a statement that it has held lengthy negotiations with trade union organisation Cosatu since November 10 and the talks have intensified over the past few days.
The objective of these discussions was to reach a mutually acceptable plan of action to avert the strike action that Cosatu has called at Sun City on December 3.
Cosatu has demanded the dismissal of certain senior managers and an employee as well as the termination of the resort's two security service providers. Cosatu has also challenged the company on the use of casual labour at the resort.
"While significant headway was made, which included agreement on a thorough investigation of certain of the allegations by independent legal and human resource consultants, we were unable to reach a compromise position. In particular Cosatu was insistent that we terminate our current security contracts with the two service providers."
As negotiations have broken down, Sun International is now seeking an urgent interdict to prevent the strike.
"Detailed contingency and security plans are in place, including the involvement of the SAPS and additional security backup, so as to ensure the safety and security of guests at the Nedbank Golf Challenge," the company said.
"We believe that Cosatu's actions are irresponsible given the openness with which we entered negotiations and the plan of action that was well developed," it said.
"Sun International management acknowledges certain incidents at Sun City have occurred where individual employees have not been treated with the respect to which they are entitled. Strong action has been taken against those responsible, including disciplinary hearings resulting in several terminations and other sanctions.
"We have also taken strong action against Falcon Security in respect of the offensive music played by one of their employees at a recent family fun day.
"Our initial investigations and the recent incidents and allegations indicate that some human resources practices at Sun City require improvement and interventions have already been initiated to address this," it said.
"Sun International prides itself as a progressive employer and rejects any form of discrimination, racial or otherwise, against any of its employees, concessionaires or service providers."
Notwithstanding the breakdown in negotiations and the intended strike action, management will nonetheless progress a number of the planned remedial actions, it said.
- I-Net Bridge
