Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) at Mercedes-Benz in East London had been engaging on lunch hour pickets, which escalated into full-blown unprotected strike action last week Thursday.
Workers whose demands relate to a transport allowance as well as an end to outsourcing at Mercedes-Benz became frustrated when management responded negatively to the pickets, threatening disciplinary action.
Management sought an interdict declaring the strike illegal. Numsa has upheld the court decision in favour of management despite concerns that members are being bullied for exercising their democratic right to embark on a picket.
“The strike action was imposed on them after serious provocation and threats by the employer to subject all workers to a kangaroo style disciplinary process for picketing”, says Numsa National Treasurer Comrade Mphumzi Maqungo. “Numsa has however agreed with workers that they return to work on Tuesday and that the union takes up their legitimate demands in negotiations with the company.”