The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) supports the Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union (PTAWU) in its call on the Minister of Labour to intervene in the Gold One matter.

On 26 July 2012 FEDUSA reported that the Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union (PTAWU) was victorious in a Labour Court judgment which discharged the appeal by Gold One International, the employer that dismissed 1 056 employees on 11 June 2012. PTAWU challenged the interim court order proclaiming an unprotected strike on 4 June 2012, and Justice Basson ruled in their favour by finding that the strike was indeed protected, meaning that the dismissals were substantively and procedurally unfair.

Subsequently on 8 August 2012, FEDUSA formally requested the Commission of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to facilitate a solution to the labour dispute. This prompted a letter sent to Gold One Chief Executive Officer Mr Neal Froneman, requesting consideration for the CCMA route, but no positive response was received from the mining company.

The latest is a letter sent by PTAWU’s attorneys to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant on 22 August 2012, requesting her to intervene in the matter.

“We fully support PTAWU in their campaign to get justice for these unfairly dismissed workers,” said FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George. “FEDUSA will continue to seek alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to find innovative solutions to the problems faced by our unions. We hope that the honourable Minister will be able to assist in this regard,” he concluded.