Labour Court orders SAB to reinstate 233 dismissed warehouse workers
The Labour Court has ruled in favour of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), ordering South African Breweries (SAB) to reinstate dismissed warehouse
Image: PHINDILE NQUMAKO/Independent Newspapers
The Labour Court has ruled in favour of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), ordering South African Breweries (SAB) to reinstate dismissed warehouse workers.
According to the FAWU Deputy Edward Maboa, around 233 workers are affected by this ruling, and the union has instructed them to report for duty immediately.
Maboa also said the union was working with the FoodBev SETA to provide support and skills development for workers who had already left or accepted severance packages.
"We are busy with foodbev seta in terms of further capacitating them and returning them into the mainstream economy," Maboa told IOL.
In a statement released to the media, the union also hailed the ruling as "a resounding and precedent-setting victory"
"This judgment exposes SAB’s procedurally unfair, bad-faith, and premature attempt to dismiss workers while concealing crucial information, defying CCMA facilitator rulings, and refusing to extend consultations without any valid reason for urgency," the union said.
According to the union, the court also ordered SAB to:
- Reinstate all dismissed FAWU members.
- Immediately halt SAB’s unlawful restructuring process;
- Fully disclose all documents relied upon to justify retrenchments; and
- Recommence proper, fair, and lawful consultations under Sections 189 and 189A of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).
IOL also previously reported that the Labour Court ordered ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to reinstate workers at its Newcastle and Vereeniging plants who were retrenched earlier this month.
The ruling also required AMSA to restart consultations with the union and pay salaries for the period affected, as the company explores alternatives to job losses.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said the court ruling was a victory for workers and would allow meaningful consultations to explore alternatives to retrenchments.
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mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za