HIGHVELD – Employees of Servest Security are not happy with the management after they were forced to join the Kungwini Amalgamated Workers Union (KAWU).
Some employees used to belong to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SARAWU) before KAWU was introduced by the management.
It is alleged that SATAWU members who refused to join KAWU, were either mistreated by the management of were dismissed.
Employees said they joined KAWU because they do not want to lose their jobs and not because they support the union.
It is alleged that some members who refused to join the union were dismissed and apparently they were also blacklisted by Sasol since they are all working on Sasol premises.
Servest Security’s management are accused of victimising employees and KAWU is also not doing anything about it.
Employees said supervisors were reading a letter to them last month saying, Servest Security have a closed shop agreement with KAWU and all employees who are not members of KAWU, will automatically be transferred to KAWU.
Employees blamed the management for choosing a union for them and not affording them the opportunity to choose their own.
“The company management should provide proof of ballot papers to show that workers are the ones who chose KAWU.
“We do not know this union since it came with the management and when we checked, we found that the founder of KAWU is a Zimbabwean who established it to fight for the Zimbabweans car guards,” said one employee who did not want to be mentioned for fear of victimisation.
Employees said every year they get a salary increase in September and the company also increased the transport to make sure that the increase does not go to the employees.
Servest Security’s branch manager is accused of pointing at certain employees and tell them that their days in the company are numbered.
The regional director of Servest Security Gauteng South Region, Mr Glen Vermeulen, said the company entered into a closed shop agreement with KAWU last year.
“This agreement is binding by Section 26 of the Labour Relations Act and was approved and assented by the CCMA.
“This decision was challenged by some opposing unions in the area via the CCMA, without any success.
“In terms of the blacklisting of employees, I assure you that no employee will ever be blacklisted by Servest or Sasol or with any organisation/client without having been through the full IR/HR process as per the Labour Relations Act.
“Blacklisting is a measure of last resort,” said Mr Vermeulen.
Sasol was also contacted but have not yet responded at the time of going to press.
