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Judge Christina Prinsloo is expected to deliver judgement in the Labour Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday on the application by Transnet Soc Limited to review and set aside an arbitration award so that the company can force some of its employees to take compulsory leave in December 2016.

Judge Prinsloo will also rule on the urgent application by the United National Transport Union (UNTU) asking her to interdict Transnet from enforcing leave pending the outcome of her judgement and any other legal steps that might follow because of it.

Steve Harris, General Secretary of UNTU, says the Union believes that Transnet does not have the right to make unilateral changes to its leave policy. Transnet never had a policy of forcing its employees to take compulsory leave.

“Transnet would not have forced some of its employees to take leave if the companies financial situation did not deteriorate. If Transnet had orders, they would have forced its employees to work over the Festive Season. It will have a very negative impact on our members if they are forced to take leave in December on such short notice,” says Harris.

Issued by UNTU