Transnet suspends lockout at Ngqura

Transnet yesterday announced that it would suspend the lockout on all striking employees at its Ngqura Container Terminal, just outside Port Elizabeth. This follows pleas from a significant number of the just over 100 staff members on strike for the company to allow them to abandon the industrial action which is now entering its seventh week.

The company announced on Tuesday that it had decided to suspend the lockout on striking workers for a prescribed period of 24 hours only - starting Wednesday 11 June 2014 at 06h00, until Thursday 12 June 2014 at 06h00. The grace period applies to Transnet employees only. Transnet will reinstate the lockout on those who fail to return to work within the specified period.

“We are aware of the devastating impact the strike has on our colleagues and their families, especially on their finances. In line with our commitment to being a caring employer and responsible citizen, management considered and agreed to the request from a group of our colleagues who wished to abandon the Numsa strike and return to work,” a spokesman said.

In line with relevant laws governing strikes, Transnet implemented a lockout. This means that striking Numsa members, and all those employees who have associated themselves, can only return to work once Numsa withdraws its demands and accepts Transnet’s lockout demands. In addition, Transnet exercised its right to apply the no-work, no-pay principle since the strike began.