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Cape Town - Sun International [JSE:SUI] said it has clearly followed to the letter every step of due process in dismissing 14 shop stewards at its Sun City complex.
Based on the behaviour of the individuals concerned, the group said in a statement, it had no other option but to dismiss them. The company also said it has been consistent in its approach in that all employees who committed the transgressions in question were disciplined, and not just shop stewards.
“We are entirely comfortable that we have complied with the correct process in all respects. The shop stewards concerned have behaved with flagrant disregard for established and agreed upon rules of engagement and have acted with impunity.
"After a number of significant transgressions, they failed to attend an independently held disciplinary process, the conclusion of which was that they should be dismissed,” said human resources director Kele Mazwai.
Sun City includes in the employees' misconduct absenteeism, insubordination, instigation of an illegal protest within the resort, inciting employees at the resort to participate in work stoppage, ignoring a court order and participating in an illegal protest which resulted in disruption of business and affected customers.
The group's recognised union the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) was well aware of the transgressions and was informed of the disciplinary action to be taken and the process that would be followed, Sun City said.
Saccawu did not attend the disciplinary enquiries, nor did the shop stewards who were accused of misconduct.
“Cosatu has since accused us of racism and discrimination – ironic in that if we had not dismissed these employees for these actions, we may well have laid ourselves open to exactly this accusation.
“We are a listed company bound by rules and procedures and obviously we carefully consider decisions of this nature. Unfortunately, Sun City remains the one unit of 14 in South Africa which is characterised by constant acts of unacceptable ill-discipline. We simply can’t continue with this degree of blatant disregard for workplace rules.
“Frankly, if anyone should know the rules, the shop stewards should. There is no excuse,” the company said.
Based on the behaviour of the individuals concerned, the group said in a statement, it had no other option but to dismiss them. The company also said it has been consistent in its approach in that all employees who committed the transgressions in question were disciplined, and not just shop stewards.
“We are entirely comfortable that we have complied with the correct process in all respects. The shop stewards concerned have behaved with flagrant disregard for established and agreed upon rules of engagement and have acted with impunity.
"After a number of significant transgressions, they failed to attend an independently held disciplinary process, the conclusion of which was that they should be dismissed,” said human resources director Kele Mazwai.
Sun City includes in the employees' misconduct absenteeism, insubordination, instigation of an illegal protest within the resort, inciting employees at the resort to participate in work stoppage, ignoring a court order and participating in an illegal protest which resulted in disruption of business and affected customers.
The group's recognised union the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) was well aware of the transgressions and was informed of the disciplinary action to be taken and the process that would be followed, Sun City said.
Saccawu did not attend the disciplinary enquiries, nor did the shop stewards who were accused of misconduct.
“Cosatu has since accused us of racism and discrimination – ironic in that if we had not dismissed these employees for these actions, we may well have laid ourselves open to exactly this accusation.
“We are a listed company bound by rules and procedures and obviously we carefully consider decisions of this nature. Unfortunately, Sun City remains the one unit of 14 in South Africa which is characterised by constant acts of unacceptable ill-discipline. We simply can’t continue with this degree of blatant disregard for workplace rules.
“Frankly, if anyone should know the rules, the shop stewards should. There is no excuse,” the company said.
