VW workers return after crippling strike

Daily Dispatch Correspondent

PORT ELIZABETH -- Thousands of Volkswagen SA workers return to work today after a crippling strike that has cost the company millions of rands in turnover.

An agreement was brokered late on Friday between VW management, Numsa bosses and disgruntled workers who had been locked in two days of negotiations to find an end to the wildcat strike which lasted seven days.

The agreement has laid down stringent conditions for the reopening of the plant which was closed following illegal strike action taken by employees after the suspension of 13 shop stewards by the National Union of Metal Workers (Numsa).

Police yesterday issued a stern warning that no intimidation of workers would be tolerated at the plant today.

VWSA and the union have also put the ball in the court of individual workers to commit themselves to fulfilling the conditions of their employment contracts.

Union structures at the Uitenhage plant will also be overhauled as a matter of urgency.

VWSA communications executive Matt Gennrich said last night all workers, except those in the A4 body and assembly, B5 body and assembly and A4 engine plants were required to report for work today.

"Because of technical reasons they are only required to report for duty on Tuesday (tomorrow)," he said.

"All other workers are urged to return to work to avoid disciplinary action." Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said from Joahnnesburg last night the union hoped the workers would heed the call to return to work this morning.

"It is highly regrettable that the strike action has caused the company to lose millions.

"It is our firm belief that workers as parents have an ultimate responsibility to provide for their families. To that end it is therefore imperative for them to resume work," Mr Ntuli said.

Speaking from Pretoria yesterday, a spokesman for the national commissioner of the South African Police Services (SAPS), director Sally de Beer said the police will be deployed to monitor the re-opening of the plant.

Director De Beer said police would ensure that the VW employees were able to resume their duties undisturbed.

She said the SAPS were monitoring the area after receiving numerous reports of intimidation during the strike.

"The SAPS will not tolerate any form of intimidation in this type of situation and strong action will be taken against persons committing such acts," she said.

The strike at VW was costing the company about R25million a day.