Just as the National Union of Metalworkers of SA signed a wage agreement to end the strike in the engineering and metals sector yesterday, the union suffered a setback as the Labour Court declared its strike at Ngqura container terminal illegal.
The court declared the action at the terminal outside Port Elizabeth both illegal and unprotected, forcing striking Numsa members to return to work or face dismissal.
The order applies only to permanent employees of Transnet.
They must report for duty today at 6am, the first shift of the day.
Numsa represents 124 of the 600 permanent workers at the terminal.
The union's demands related to staffing levels, the use of labour brokers and transport allowances.
Transnet said the strike was characterised by violence because the majority of workers had ignored the call to down tools.
A few striking workers were arrested and charged for acts of intimidation and violence.
The court found that, in Port Elizabeth, Numsa had failed to follow procedures set out in the Labour Relations Act.
In addition, the court said Numsa and its members were bound by current procedural agreements governing Transnet and its recognised unions.
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