The South African National Parks (SANParks) field rangers' strike, which commenced on the 3rd February 2012, has been called-off, effective as from 30th April 2012. Of the 361 employees that embarked on the strike, 248 are field rangers. On 14 February, 26 rhino had been poached in the Kruger National Park (KNP) since January 2012. By the end of April, the number of illegally killed rhino in Kruger stood at 119 — 93 rhinos were killed in Kruger in the 70 days during the field rangers' strike.
The National Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), acting on behalf of striking employees proposed the following: That the strike be immediately called-off and striking employees to return to work on or before Tuesday 1st May 2012 SANParks suspends the contemplated retrenchment for operational requirements; and That SANParks commits to a meeting to address grievances which led to the strike.
The National Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), acting on behalf of striking employees proposed the following:
- That the strike be immediately called-off and striking employees to return to work on or before Tuesday 1st May 2012
- SANParks suspends the contemplated retrenchment for operational requirements; and
- That SANParks commits to a meeting to address grievances which led to the strike.
SANParks responded as follows:
- NEHAWU's proposal to call-off the strike is accepted and that striking employees should return to work unconditionally
- SANParks shall call-off the contemplated retrenchment for operational requirements
- SANParks commits to meet striking employees and or their representatives in order to discuss issues that led to the strike; which are not related to matters of mutual interest, but matters of rights; and
- SANParks further committed to share relevant information at the meeting in order to demonstrate that the issues raised by striking employees are part of on-going discussions with recognized unions.
William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communication, KNP said that affected employees will not be victimized or intimidated as a consequence to their participation in a protected strike.
Acts of misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the Disciplinary Code and Procedure.
