Bus company Putco rubbishes reports of employees mistreatment

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The Public Utility Transport Corporation(Putco) has rejects claims of mistreatment concerning suspended employees.

This comes after the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) accused the management of Putco for treating workers as if they are prisoners.

These claims arose following adjustments to suspension conditions for employees involved in the September 2022 illegal strike.

Furthermore, employees also faced additional charges related to misconduct, including violations of the company’s media policy and incidents of intimidation and physical altercations with fellow employees.

“At least 134 workers are suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry at Putco, after they embarked on a work stoppage last year because Putco refused to pay the wage increase of 6% and the bonus which was due to workers,” said Irvin Jim, the union General Secretary.

According to Jim, Putco provoked workers into withdrawing their labour, and then they attempted to dismiss over 1000 of them.

He added; “NUMSA intervened, and succeeded in preventing the mass dismissals. However, whilst we succeeded in getting majority of them reinstated, some of them are currently undergoing disciplinary processes with the CCMA.

“They are on paid suspension and were only attending disciplinary hearings, which is the norm.

“However, Putco management changed the conditions of suspension, unilaterally, without consulting the union or workers. Workers are now expected to report to the depot everyday, whilst they are on suspension, instead of staying home.”

Putco’s brutal treatment of employees

Jim stated that as NUMSA they are demanding that Putco must stop this brutal treatment of workers immediately and called on Transport department to review the subsidies for Putco because they always flout basic regulation. 

Lindokuhle Xulu, the bus service spokesperson said recently, the company organized for suspended employees to report to designated premises on weekdays without rendering services until the conclusion of the section 188A inquiry.

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“The modification was prompted by employment contract violations, difficulty in communication with suspended employees, and poor attendance at the inquiry.

“Putco refutes accusations of inhumane conditions, emphasizing that workers report at 07:30 and depart at 16:15, Monday to Friday, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 12:45.

“The premises are natural workspaces, deep-cleaned, and modified to meet their needs, providing water and ample ablution facilities,” he concluded.