Timelink Cargo has terminated the contracts of 45 truck drivers who participated in an unprotected strike on Monday.
The drivers, expressing discontent with the company’s payment practices, voiced their grievances, citing dissatisfaction with their salaries.
Among their demands was the insistence on receiving back pay for a period of two months.
Speaking exclusively to SA Trucker, representatives of the striking drivers asserted that their primary demand was for Timelink Cargo to adhere to the Main Collective Agreement, in accordance with the regulations set forth by the National Bargaining Council of the Road Freight and Logistics Industries (NBCRFLI).
In response to inquiries regarding the terminations, management at Timelink Cargo clarified that the decision was made due to a breach of agreement.
According to the company spokesperson, the terminated drivers had previously reached an agreement following a previous strike.
However, the drivers subsequently deviated from the agreed terms and went on an illegal strike prompting the termination of their employment contracts.
“They all have been dismissed,” affirmed the company representative, underlining the gravity of the situation.
The abrupt termination of the 45 truck drivers underscores the tense atmosphere surrounding labour relations within the freight and logistics sector in the country.
As the fallout from the recent events continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Timelink Cargo and its former employees will navigate the aftermath of this dispute.
