AN arbitration award has been granted in favour of 49 metalworkers who were “unfairly and irrationally” dismissed by BMW management.
This followed a protracted disciplinary action after alleged participation of the employees in an unprotected strike in October 2005.
The arbitration which is to be effected from August 10, 2007, has concluded this week that BMW acted irrationally in acting against the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) members by creating confusion which resulted in unnecessary loss of production for two days.
BMW has indicated however, that it wanted the award to be reviewed, which we felt we will fight to its logical conclusion.
Now that the arbitration has decided that Numsa members were unfairly charged with offence or misconduct and that their dismissal was not based on a fair reason, only one conclusion that can be reached is that BMW is doing this out of arrogance, their bashing tactics are exposed and they need to be dealt with.
It is our view that the company intention to review this award has no basis but to delay and further frustrate the poor employees who were unfairly dismissed. And we are mobilising protest demonstration this week in support of the reinstatement of these workers.
Their reinstatement shall be retrospective to October 2005 and they shall be required to tender their services before Friday 10 August, 2007.08.08
For further information contact:
Mziwakhe Hlangani, Numsa national spokesperson
Cell phone: 082 9407116
E-mail : mziwakheh@numsa.org.za