Employers plan to take a hard line in talks set for Friday to bring an end to a nearly two-month long security industry strike.
A joint statement by security sector employers said their continued participation in the talks was dependent on the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) agreeing to call off the strike and bring an end to violence associated with the dispute.
”The only reason employers were prepared to meet with the union at talks that began last Friday was because Satawu had confirmed their willingness to suspend the strike if talks recommenced,” spokesperson Steve Friswell said.
”We have engaged with Satawu for almost a full week, yet it does not appear that [they] are willing to follow through on their earlier commitment. Instead, they have attempted to bargain an indemnity for their members who may have been engaged in acts of misconduct during the strike.
”As employers responsible for the employment of the vast majority of employees in an industry employing over 380 000 people, the mere idea that we could absolve anyone of accountability for violent crime directed at these employees runs counter to our values and principles, and we cannot in good conscience countenance this demand,” Friswell said.
”We condemn the violence and intimidation in the strongest terms possible. We sympathise with the families of our employees and the public at large who have suffered pain and loss at the hands of Satawu.”
Satawu security industry national coordinator Jackson Simon called on employers to set the issue of disciplinary hearings side and to focus on workers’ demands at the talks.
He said their insistence on Satawu calling off its strike was unfortunate and would get in the way of good-faith negotiations. — Sapa