Satawu statement on non-payment of security workers 30-07-07

 

SATAWU PRESS RELEASE ON THE NON PAYMENT OF SALARIES TO EMPLOYEES AT ADM SECURITY IN MPUMALANGA

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union(SATAWU) as the largest union organised in the Private Security Sector and having as its members employed by ADM Security which provide security services to government departments in Mpumalanga is concerned with the continuous non-payment and late payment of security workers employed by the said company.

Our members employed by this company remain unpaid with regard to their monthly salaries thereby putting these security workers and their families in a difficult situation. It is reported to us that this situation has continued for a very long time whereby workers virtually every month receive their salaries days after the usual pay day and sometimes working for a month without receiving any salary. It is also reported that this company deducts contributions for the Provident Fund and union subscription fees from the salaries but fails to pay it over to NBC and SATAWU as required in terms of the law. This includes the employer failing to pay their required contribution as per the law, resulting in workers being exposed to dangerous conditions without any cover.

In our communication with the Human Resource Manager who is based in its office situated in Benoni, he informed us that the reason for the non-payment and late payment of workers is due to the non-payment or late payment by government departments in Mpumalanga as per the legal contractual obligations. He also informed us that these departments are using the recent public sector strike as an excuse of not paying or late paying the due amounts whereby it is said that these departments are alleging that they could not process any invoice due to the public sector strike.

It is further reported that this company provide security services to the Education Department, Department of Health and Social services, Department of Agriculture and Department of Public Works in the Mpumalanga Province and all of these departments are responsible for the non-payment or late payment of the due amounts.

Our Mpumalanga office and members informed us that they have been communicating and have submitted a memorandum to the Department of Safety and Security which is alleged to be responsible for the coordination of these payments but to no avail. Some of the officials in the said department are claiming that the said department is not responsible for payment or coordination of such payments in terms of the legal contractual obligation between government departments and ADM Security.

Furthermore, in our communication with the said Human Resource Manager, he informed us that the only way they can be able to pay the salaries of our members is when government departments pay the due amounts owing. He further stated that the bank is refusing to grant them any further overdraft as they have exhausted it in the past month.

It is the union’s and our members’ demand that the relevant government departments must ensure payment to ADM security in order to avoid workers and their families being so grossly prejudiced given that they already earn slave wages and have real social and economic obligations to meet.

In an industry that remains vulnerable and in which many employers’ consistently commit acts of non compliance with impunity because they know they can get away with it due to lack of enforcement.

These workers are responsible for the most demanding financial obligations in respect to their families such as the payment of rental, transportation, food, and services provided by the local authorities.

We demand from the Mpumalanga government and the premier in particular to ensure that the department of safety and security pay up the salaries of our members within 48 hours to stop this super exploitation. We have written letters to all the relevant offices including the premier but to no avail.

This company must also in turn be compelled by the government departments to pay all outstanding salaries and to pay over to NBC and SATAWU all monies due in terms of the Provident Fund and the union subscription fees deducted from workers as required by the law, including the employer contribution required Provident Fund rules.

This employer also happens to be the owner of Benoni Premier United soccer club and continues to buy expensive soccer players whilst not being able to pay the salaries of its security employees.

It is very disappointing to see government departments ignoring issues affecting security workers providing services in their departments whilst officials in these departments smile all the way to the bank by the month end with their salaries paid in full without any hesitation.

We call on Cosatu, SACP and the ANC in Mpumalanga to bring pressure to bear on the provincial government to ensure the fair and decent treatment of our members by correcting the current injustice and creating a consistent environment with regard to future salary payments and compliance. This situation proves why workers were prepared to struggle in such a determined and united manner for three months to change their slavery conditions in 2006. It seems we have to prepare for another battle in 2009 if this example is anything to go by.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Jackson Simon on 011 333 6127 or 079 495 3640