THURSDAY, 2.00PM
SOLDIERS are attempting to form an army trade union, called the SA National Defence Union, and may go to court to force the military to lift its ban on union activities.
The union claims that army officers have barred members from organising for the union or wearing union T-shirts, and have insisted that troops sign contracts waiving their constitutional rights to unionise.
A statement issued on Wednesday said: “Sandu is consulting our legal representatives on the possibility of these special orders constituting an urgent high court application.”
An army spokesman has confirmed that soldiers are not allowed to join unions, because the army is an essential service. “But it’s not as if soldiers have been left in the lurch. There are various channels where soldiers can express their grievances.”