Sneller Verbatim/HVDM
IN THE LABOUR COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
BRAAMFONTEIN CASE NO: J62/03
2003-02-10
In the matter between
NATURAL STONE PROCESSORS (PTY) LTD Applicant
and
UNICIMESHAWU Respondent
___________________________________________________________
J U D G M E N T
___________________________________________________________
LANDMAN J: The members of the United Chemical Industries
Mining and Electrical State Health Allied Workers Union, who
were employed by the Natural Stone Processors (Pty) Ltd,
engaged in a protected strike in support of a wage demand.
The strike continued for two and a half months until the union
suspended the strike pending the outcome of negotiations at
the CCMA. The union informed the company that the workers
would return to work on 8 November 2002, but would not sign
any new conditions of employment until the dispute was
resolved. All the strikers returned to work on 8 November
after signing affidavits stating that they were returning to
work unconditionally.
The company acknowledged the suspension of the strike
although it informed the union that the strikers must "sign the
lock out notice". It nevertheless allowed them to work without
doing so. On 14 November the company informed the union
that it did not agree to the CCMA intervention in the wage
dispute. After this some strikers accepted the company's
wage offer. Others did not. The company issued notices to
some of the strikers informing them of the commencement of
disciplinary hearings and charges relating to misconduct
allegedly committed during the strike.
The union's response to this step came in the form of its
letter of 25 November 2002. It reads as follows:
"Notice is hereby given that if management does not settle the
wage dispute and refuses to stop its victimisation, exploitation,
suppression and harrassment of employees by the
November 26, 2002, workers shall resume their legal and
protected strike any time thereafter. The demands are
simple -
(1) Settlement of wages between 8% and R1,60 across the board
backdated to the 1 July 2002.
(2) Drop all unfounded and outdated charges against all
employees.
(3) Management to accept the reality that apartheid behaviour
and all its evils are something of the past and will never be
accepted in our new democracy."
More correspondence was exchanged between the union
and the company. On 27 November 2002 the union stated in a
letter of that date, inter alia:
"Notice is hereby given that the legal and protected strike
which was suspended for the purpose of trying to settle the
wage dispute amicably and without any further losses to the
company and the employees' income shall resume on
28 November 2002. It should be noted that all employees
which names appear in a court order dated 7 November 2002
are not allowed to come anywhere near the 500 metres of the
company premises."
The company replied to this letter on the same day and
said inter alia:
"1. The company is of the opinion that the resumption of the strike
may not be legitimate and it reserves all its rights in this
respect. The employees who wish to provide their services will
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