Johannesburg – The war of words between the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Putco has intensified with the bus operator saying it was “disappointed” with the “reckless” call by the labour movement for a boycott of its services.
Earlier on Monday, NUMSA said in a statement that, “Putco is at war with workers, and they must be stopped”.
The union called on “the community to boycott Putco for its war on workers”.
Reponding to the union, Putco said it was “disappointed by the call of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa urging the public to boycott the company’s services”.
Putco said the call for a boycott of sevices comes as 85 union members face a Section 188A CCMA arbitration process for embarking on an illegal strike in September 2022.
“NUMSA’s call is irresponsible and out of touch with the economic realities of many South Africans,” said Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu.
“It essentially asks breadwinners to jeopardise their jobs and the economic well being of their families.
“Further to this, this reckless statement has the potential to affect the existing jobs of Putco employees including those of its members.”
He said Putco was calling on its passengers and the general public not to heed the call by the union.
“NUMSA’s call stems from Putco’s decision to amend the precautionary suspension condition of employees who have been on paid suspension for over 17 months,” said Xulu.
“This decision to amend the conditions was motivated by a need to ensure speedy and accurate communication with our employees.”
Xulu said there has been poor attendance of the suspended employees at the inquiry currently before the CCMA and this has delayed the process.
He said NUMSA has been employing delaying tactics despite a Section 150 agreement by both parties to expedite the arbitration process.
“Despite plans to call 85 members to the stand, they have only concluded the evidence of 19 employees in the last 17 months,” said Xulu.
“Putco urges NUMSA to refrain from making false allegations and irresponsible calls and focus on expediting the inquiry process.
“Putco emphasises its commitment to providing an uninterrupted service to passengers.
“We encourage commuters to disregard calls that could compromise their livelihoods and we reaffirm our commitment to providing a much-needed service.”
For its part, NUMSA has accused Putco of mistreating workers who have been placed on suspension.
“At least 120 workers are suspended by Putco and the management is treating them inhumanely, by violating their dignity while they are on suspension,” NUMSA said.
“These workers are suspended because Putco tried to withhold increases, which rightly belong to workers.
“This matter goes back to 2022 when hundreds of workers embarked on a work stoppage because the Putco management refused to pay the wage increase of 6% and the bonus which was due to workers.”
Putco had applied for an exemption from implementing the 6% wage increase.
“Putco’s refusal to pay the increases provoked workers into withdrawing their labour, and then they attempted to dismiss 1 000 of them,” the union said.
“NUMSA intervened and succeeded in preventing the mass dismissals.
“However, whilst we succeeded in getting the majority of them re-instated, some of them are currently undergoing disciplinary processes with the CCMA.”
NUMSA said Putco provoked workers into withdrawing their labour because of “their greed”.
NUMSA added: “Now it is continuing its reign of terror on these workers by treating them inhumanely, whilst they are on suspension.
“It was the greedy selfish behaviour of the Managing Director, Franco Pisapia that sparked the work stoppage.
“It is shameless for them to get money from the state through generous subsidies, and, at then at the same time, to withhold money from poor workers.
“It is no secret that Putco pays peanuts, which is why their behaviour is unforgivable.”
