Durban July 'strike' cancelled at last minute
Updated | By Steve Bhengu
An apparent strike planned to shut down the Vodacom Durban July has been averted at the eleventh hour after unionists and the employer reached an overnight agreement.
The Academic and Professional Staff Association had threatened that the horse racing event would not go ahead today, as it opposed the retrenchment of 500 of its members at betting company, Phumelela.
The union had also been demanding the company do right by some of its workers who have allegedly been employed there for 20 years without a contract. It also wants issues around provident funds to be fixed, among other things.
APSA's Boitumelo Senokoane says marathon talks went well into the night and a compromise was eventually reached.
He said the decision was then made to call off the strike.
"The have committed to revisit the provident fund issue as they have shown us what is wrong and how they plan to remedy it. They have also promised to fix certain unacceptable working conditions workers are subjected to", he said.
"Lastly, on the retrenchments, they have agreed to go back to the drawing board and find a lasting solution that includes labour union's input", Senokoane said.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Vodacom Durban July, Gold Circle, had always maintained that the event would not be affected, as it does not draw any of its staff from Phumelela.
Thousands of people are making there way to the HollywoodBets Greyville Racecourse for the annual horse racing spectacular.
eThekwini believes the event will rake in millions for the local economy.
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