Transport utility Putco announced that they might review the dismissal of 105 workers who lost their jobs during the three week strike. Employees were demanding a wage increase as well as a 6% backpay of their bonuses from 2020. Their efforts and sacrifice were not in vain because they will be greeting a 6% increase. However it will not be back dated.
A BONUS FINALLY
"The annual bonus of 2020 will be paid by Putco to all employees who were employed by the company by 1 April 2020 ?" spread equally over a period of 18 months,' the bus company said. "A once-off payment of R5000 per employee inside the bargaining unit will be paid in two instalments. Once the settlement agreement has been signed, Putco will withdraw the application to the Labour Court to review the decision of the last Exemption Appeal Authority,"said Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA Spokeswoman.
MEC INTERVENTION
?Putco Spokesman Lindokuhle Xulu explained that their decision to review the dismissal was encouraged by the MEC for Transport Jacob Mamabolo.He said the MEC was concerned about the increasing number of unemployment.
"We have done investigations and watched all the CCTV footage from the strike, for now it's safe to say 19 employees will be reinstated immediately. This now reduces the number 105 to 86,"said Xulu. "We will be approaching the Bargaining Council, as well as CCMA, to actually help us facilitate with the appeals and what we're also going to do is to bring back all of the workers into the employ of the company, but they will be under suspension until we get to the bottom of this particular process.' Xulu said if the proposal is accepted, employees, who were dismissed for misconduct, during the strike will be reinstated immediately and placed on suspension pending the outcome of the Section 188A disciplinary hearings.
