LIMUSA Statement on the reactionary posture by ESKOM, SAPS, Home Affairs... on TELSCREW Workers

[LIMUSA Press Statements]

Press Statement

 

10 September 2018

 

LIMUSA Statement on the reactionary posture by ESKOM, SAPS, Home Affairs, Department of Labour and the bargaining council on the super exploitation and violation of rights on TELSCREW workers.

 

The Liberated Metalworkers Union of South Africa is angered, disappointed and still in shock by the reactionary anti-democratic behaviour of ESKOM, the South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs, Department of Labour and the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) on the super exploitation of workers at TELSCREW.

 

It is a shock that two decades after democracy, we still have workers who are locked inside the work place and guarded by an employer with guns.  Workers at TELSCREW live in fear everyday and they work in unsafe conditions and are pointed by guns whenever they raise issues of their safety and salaries. The employer locks workers in the work place all the time and goes to his house to sleep without even caring about the safety of employees.

 

TELSCREW is a supplier to ESKOM, which supplies electrical equipment. It is therefore a shock that a state-owned entity such as ESKOM would have a supplier that fails to comply with any law in the country. This is a super exploitative employer who calls black workers with the k-word and has even said to the union that he is not afraid of anyone in the country and he will continue to treat workers the way he feels it is appropriate.

 

Workers at TELSCREW are not supposed to go to the toilet or even have their lunchtime. They eat where they work and are told to be naked and go to the toilet at their work stations. These practices are prohibited by the constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

 

The employer refuses to comply with the main agreement of the bargaining council. Workers have not seen an increase for the past four years whereas there is a main agreement which the employer is supposed to comply with. The bargaining council has failed to force him to comply and has also failed to hold the employer accountable.

 

Workers opened a case with SAPS, Boksburg police station, and until today they have not received any form of attention from SAPS. The case was opened earlier this year where many of the issues mentioned in this statement were raised.

 

The Department of Home Affairs has also been made aware numerously that there are foreign workers in the work place without legal documents. Until today the issue has also not received any form of attention.

 

The Department of Labour has been informed numerously on these unfair labour practices. Equally, until today workers are still stranded and still work under the same conditions.

 

On Friday workers embarked on a strike against the employer. The strike was to force the employer to comply with all labour laws and the main agreement of the bargaining council. The strike was equally against the racism of the employer and the unfair treatment between black and white employees.

 

This morning, all workers who participated in the strike on Friday were dismissed. The employer confronted the employees with a gun and told them to leave his premises. Workers are still engaged on the strike and will be on strike until their matter receives the necessary attention from all relevant authorities.

 

We are calling on ESKOM to terminate its contract with TELSCREW. ESKOM has a responsibility to ensure that its suppliers comply with all the laws of the country. We are further calling on all the mentioned authorities to take action on this employer and ensure that justice is served for the sake of the exploited employees.

 

The union will not rest until our members at TELSCREW finds justice.

 

Issued by LIMUSA.

 

For more information contact:

Dloze Matooane (Media and Communications Officer)

065 819 6793 or email: dloze.m...@limusa.org

Twitter: @LIMUSA_media

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