Police union against project that cuts work days
The South African Policing Union (SAPU) in KZN is calling for the immediate scrapping of a pilot project which it says reduces days worked and stands to cut members' salaries at Westville prison.
The union says its members have expressed dissatisfaction over the project, which came into effect about two weeks ago. Members at the correctional centre have previously worked seven days with two days off, but now work five days with two days off.
The union's Nurse Mdletshe claims staff was not consulted.
"This unilateral move was never communicated with the Department of Correctional Services National Office. This decision has negatively affected the employees both on their social levels and on their due benefits," Mdletshe says.
The union says the decision also goes against a court order which prevents such changes to the working structure.
"According to the court order of 11 February 2011 on shift patterns, it was held that the Department of Correctional Services stipulates that regional commissioners are therefore instructed not to determine any new shift system until the departmental bargaining chambers processes have been exhausted. Those bargaining councils never prevailed."
