Truda staff gather in support of union
Company says mysterious Saswu is seemingly not registered
olice were allegedly called in to defuse tension after some Truda Foods workers gathered outside the factory premises on Friday.
When The Rep arrived at the scene, three police vehicles were parked outside the business and a large crowd of workers were seen leaving the premises.
According to the general secretary of the South African Security and Allied Workers Union (Saswu), Xolile Mashukuca, Truda Foods had contacted the police requesting that they remove the employees who had gathered there. This was not a strike. Our
“members were only here to accompany us [Saswu] when we came to introduce ourselves to Truda today.
They leave disappointed
“because no one was violent. They came to bring their
“grievances to their employers. Instead of talking to them they called police,” said Mashukuca.
He said the workers had gathered at the premises in support of Saswu.
He called the snub an infringement on workers rights
’ to unionise.
Last week I wrote to Truda
“and requested a meeting with the factory manager,” he said. I told them I would bring
“the forms today to prove membership. I was referred to the head office and then later to a consultant.”
He admitted to a breakdown in communication with the consultant but said it was not a reason to not hold a meeting. What we want is to submit
“our membership forms.
The Labour Relations Act
“says we have a right to have debit order deductions on our members salaries even if we do
’ not yet have a collective agreement,” Mashukuca said.
PThat process will not
“happen when they refuse to see us.”
He added that the firm had frustrated the workers efforts to unionise, which was in violation of their rights, including the National State of Disaster Act. Now that there is Covid-19, “some workers have tested positive here but there was no testing of contacts or isolation.
The right to unionise is in
“the constitution. Workers here do not have
“protective gear as they work in dangerous conditions.”
In response to questions sent to Truda Foods, CEO of the company Colin van Heerden said Saswu had not followed the proper protocols.
About two weeks ago our
“
Komani human resources office received an e-mail from someone claiming to be general secretary of a union called Saswu. Our HR put him in contact with head office.
He was asked to comply
“with section 21 of the Labour Relations Act, namely to provide proof of his union and members,” Van Heerden said. He did not produce
“evidence that any of our staff had joined Saswu. He also failed to provide any evidence that Saswu is a genuine union. As at February 2020, there
“were 218 registered unions in South Africa. Saswu is not one of them. Consequently, there was no agreement to meet.”
Van Heerden said he did not believe the police had fired rubber bullets at the workers. Some of our staff gathered
“peacefully at the gate and dispersed after a while of their own free will.
We know nothing about
“police firing rubber bullets at our staff. We doubt it happened. There are unscrupulous
“people out there who are looking to take advantage of the confusion, anxiety and uncertainty that Covid-19 has brought. It would be no surprise if the mysterious Saswu union and its elusive general secretary don t fall into this category.
’
Truda Foods is extremely
“proud of its people during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We have nearly 5,000 staff “throughout the country.
We have worked every day “since Easter.
Thanks to the dedication
“and commitment of our people to safety, we do not know of a single Covid-19 transmission that has occurred at work. Furthermore, no one has been retrenched during this time. On the contrary, we have
“provided almost 700 new work opportunities, mostly as a result of the need to maintain social distancing in the workplace.”
Mashukuca said Saswu had since laid a case against Truda Foods for negligence and violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.