Strike was a ‘distasteful’ event for Huis Herfsblaar
"Management must also ensure that a safe and conducive environment be maintained for all personnel."
The strike orchestrated by the EFF on Wednesday, July 28 at Huis Herfsblaar in Queenswood, has been described as “a distasteful event” for the elderly, management and most of the staff members.
Executive manager of the old age home, James Black said that they were working tirelessly to ensure that peace and order are restored to the home.
“During ongoing negotiations, certain staff members of Huis Herfsblaar embarked upon an illegal strike from July 29.
“The illegal strike forced management’s hand at approaching the Labour Court in Johannesburg,” he said.
About 100 EFF members marched to hand over a memorandum to the management last week.
The EFF labour desk said it was “representing vulnerable workers, noting the ongoing unfair labour practices and racial discrimination Huis Herfsblaar employees were subjected to”.
As previously reported, the reason behind the planned march by the EFF was also because they were frustrated by the persistent failure of the employer to attend to pressing matters on racial discrimination and unfair labour practices subjected to workers and wage increment.
According to Black, a day before the march, the Labour Court granted a prohibitive interdict against the strike and further ruled that the strike was an unprotected strike.
“The management of staff is executed with strict adherence to national and labour legislation as applicable to the respective fields of nursing and support services.
“The existence of an impasse during negotiations are inevitable, however, all differences are dealt with in strict accordance with labour practices,” he explained.
Black added that the management of Huis Herfsblaar remains committed, as it always has been, to embark upon bona fide negotiations with the workforce and representative trade unions.
“The discharge of management’s duties rests not only in the well-being of the elderly, but management must also ensure that a safe and conducive environment be maintained for all personnel.
“During adjusted level 3 and 4 lockdown and the prevailing unrest, management was forced to increase safety protocols. The labour unrest is at present being mitigated through co-operation of the workforce, labour representatives and certain trade unions,” he said.
Huis Herfsblaar cares for more than 450 elderly people and has been doing so for the best part of 38 years.
Some of the residents are more than 100 years old. Huis Herfsblaar employs 330 staff members, including nursing and support personnel.
“Families of the elderly residents were also affected by the unsolicited strike.
“The management of Huis Herfsblaar wishes to extend their appreciation to the members of the SAPS for acting decisively and intervening timeously to ensure that no injuries or loss of life followed the strike action,” Black concluded.
The EFF requested the management of the home to give feedback as requested on the memorandum by Thursday, August 5.
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