The Delta Motor Corporation on Monday welcomed the resolution of the two-week strike by close to 3 000 National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members, which related to sick-leave procedures.
Delta manager of corporate communications Denise van Huyssteen said the company and union officials signed a revised sick-absence procedure on Monday, which is effective immediately.
The new agreement provides changes to the counselling process for employees who exceed certain levels of sick absence.
“We thank the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration for facilitating this process,” she said.
Van Huyssteen added that Delta was looking forward to a resumption of full production operations on Tuesday.
Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said the resolution came after the workers modified the new proposals made by the company last week.
The two parties agreed that no disciplinary measures would be taken against workers for taking sick leave within a period of 30 days as stipulated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
Numsa and the company agreed that within a 30-day period workers would undergo counselling and the union would be directly involved in the process.
Other agreements include that after a 30-day sick-leave cycle workers would be subjected to two counselling sessions before disciplinary measures are taken. In case of incapacity the parties will use the Labour Relations Act as a reference. The company and the union agreed to establish support systems for workers with the incapacity to work.
“The decision to return to work is critical and signals a major breakthrough. The workers’ general meeting on Monday was very constructive. The proposals received support from the workers.” — I-Net Bridge