Numsa challenges Eskom SMS dismissals
- Published on 31 Mar 2015
- HR Pulse News Desk
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Friday that it would challenge power utility Eskom on its decision to fire 1,000 workers at its Medupi construction site by SMS.
The union called on Eskom and its sub-contractors to "suppress their egos" and respond to workers' grievances. "Any failure by Eskom and its sub-contractors to concede to our demands will leave us little choice but to flex our organisational muscle and collective power, both at Medupi and Kusile power stations.
We reject this reckless and provocative stance taken by Eskom's sub-contracted companies to threaten workers with disciplinary actions via SMSes," Numsa said in a statement. Workers at the Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo were being threatened with disciplinary action through text messages, the union said on Friday. According to Numsa, the text messages read: "Dear employee with effect from 27 March 2015, you are not required to report for duty.
The company will proceed and implement disciplinary processes forthwith and you will be notified accordingly." Numsa said this would lead to a total shut-down of the power station. On Friday, contractors at Medupi fired over 1,000 workers for taking part in an illegal strike on Wednesday demanding better working conditions.
