Sun International is seeking an urgent interdict to prevent what it considers to be an illegal strike by members affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the hotel group said on Wednesday.
”Sun International is seeking an urgent interdict to prevent what it considers to be illegal strike action by staff of both Sun City and its various service providers and concessionaires,” it said in a statement.
The company said negotiations between itself and Cosatu had broken down.
Workers had threatened to disrupt the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which starts on Thursday, by blockading the main entrance to the resort and stopping any use of scab labour.
Sun International said it had put into place detailed contingency and security plans, including the involvement of the police and additional security backup, to ensure the safety of guests.
The company said it had held ”lengthy negotiations” with Cosatu, starting on November 10 and intensifying over the past few days.
”The objective of these discussions was to reach a mutually acceptable plan of action to avert the strike action that Cosatu has called at Sun City on December 3.”
The trade union federation has demanded the dismissal of certain senior managers and an employee as well as the termination of the resort’s two security service providers.
Cosatu had also challenged the company on the use of casual labour at the resort.
”While significant headway was made, which included agreement on a thorough investigation of certain of the allegations by independent legal and human resource consultants, we were unable to reach a compromise position.
”In particular Cosatu was insistent that we terminate our current security contracts with the two service providers.”
Sun International said Cosatu’s actions were ”irresponsible” given the openness with which the company had entered negotiations and the plan of action that was well developed.
Sun International management acknowledged certain incidents at Sun City had occurred where individual employees had not been treated with the respect to which they were entitled.
”Strong action has been taken against those responsible, including disciplinary hearings resulting in several terminations and other sanctions.”
Cosatu had complained that a Falcon Security staffer played a racially offensive CD at a staff function and that 24/7 staffers strip-searched employees accused of theft.
”We have also taken strong action against Falcon Security in respect of the offensive music played by one of their employees at a recent family fun day,” Sun International said.
Initial investigations and the recent incidents and allegations indicated that some human resources practices at Sun City required improvement and it had already taken steps to address this, the company said.
”Sun International prides itself as a progressive employer and rejects any form of discrimination, racial or otherwise, against any of its employees, concessionaires or service providers.”
Notwithstanding the breakdown in negotiations and the intended strike action, management would put into place some of the planned remedial actions, it said. — Sapa