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Cape Town - An application by the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) to force the National Employers' Association of South Africa (Neasa) to allow workers to return to work was dismissed.
The Labour Court in Johannesburg on Monday rejected with costs an application, brought by Numsa in August, to have the lock-out by Neasa declared illegal.
“This is a massive victory for labour relations in South Africa,” said Neasa chief executive Gerhard Papenfus in a statement.
Neasa said the lock-out is not compulsory for its members, but those participating in it will continue despite intimidation.
“These scare tactics will not have an effect on our decision to support the lock-out against union members,” said Papenfus.
He said that the only way to lift the lock-out will be for Numsa and other unions to meet with the body and discuss their demands.
These relate to a wage settlement, following a bruising strike by workers in the metals and engineering sectors, which Neasa is not party to.
Papenfus said the court outcome lends credence to Neasa’s view that its members cannot be bound by an agreement between Numsa and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa).
Seifsa agreed to a government proposal to raise wages by as much as 10%, bringing an end to a strike by more than 200 000 workers, which was tainted by violence.
The stoppage disrupted the supply of car part and construction work at Eskom's power stations. It forced US automaker Ford and others to halt production at their plants.
Seifsa’s employers agreed to pay the increased wages from July 1.
“This does not apply to Neasa’s members who are not presently obligated to pay any increases. Neasa will continue to resist all attempts to impose the unaffordable Seifsa -deal on our members,” said Papenfus.
MORE: Gallery: Numsa strikers hit small businesses.
- Fin24
