NEHAWU Restores unlawfully Deducted Salaries Of Workers By The North West Department Of Community Safety And Transport
Thursday July 14, 2022
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the Labour Court Judgement on the matter between the union and North West Department of Community Safety and Transport.
The judgement follows our urgent application interdicting the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport from continuing with unlawful salary deductions of workers.
On the 15th June 2022, the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport effected salaries deductions on our members who work as Traffic Officers. These deductions according to the department were premised on the “no work no pay” principle.
As NEHAWU, we opposed the deductions and our bone of contention was based on the introduction of a new roaster by the Department for Traffic Officers and whilst parties were negotiating, the Department imposed deductions on salaries of workers for the month of April and threatened to impose further deductions on the month of July due to the workers’ alleged unauthorised absence from work since 8 April 2022.
On the 8th July 2022, the union brought an urgent application to interdict the said deductions and declared them to be unlawful and in contravention of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act [BCEA] in terms of section 34.
The Labour Court issued its judgement on the 12th of July 2022, where it ordered that the Department must reimburse our members an amount equal to the deductions made. We contend that in the absence of a written agreement of its members consenting to the deduction or arrear payments, the deductions are unlawful. The Labour Court expressed its displeasure towards the Department and also issued costs in favour of the union.
Lastly, the union welcomes this court judgement as it protects workers from employers who abuse their powers by unlawfully deducting salaries of workers.
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Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat Office
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968;
December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969;
Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za ________