Busmark workers strike owing to unfair dismissal

Approximately 50 Busmark 2000 employees who are also part of the National Union of Metal Workers in South Africa (NUMSA) decided to camp outside the company’s premises in Aureus in what they call an unfair dismissal strike.

This was today (21 November) and comes after 88 of them were allegedly unfairly dismissed and their contracts allegedly terminated on 22 October.

According to them, this also comes as a result of them showing support to striking petrol attendants during a their nationwide strike in September.

According Busmark’s Shop Stewart Ntobeko Ndimba who was also dismissed, they feel that they have been unfairly dismissed and their jobs given to foreign nationals.

“All this emanates from the fact that we took part in the petrol attendants strike.

“Immediately after that, some of us received warnings and so forth.

“On 22 October, our contracts were terminated and others were suspended without following the correct procedures.

“This leaves us in a position where we cannot support our families let alone feed ourselves.” says Ndimba.

The Herald has contacted Busmark 2000’s Human Resource Manager Hans Collins who slams these allegations and says that none of their employees have been dismissed nor were their contracts terminated.

“We are currently in an ongoing discliplinery hearing process owing to the fact that they’ve embarked on an illegal strike.

“They have committed certain misconduct during that time and they were charged for it,” says Collins.

He adds that the company had to get a court interdict owing to the fact that the employees in question damaged the company’s property to the tune of millions.

Meanwhile, the employees have vowed to strike again should the company not reach a decision with their NUMSA representatives by next week.