Aspen indicates appeal against technician’s reinstatement ruling

Aspen Pharmacare has indicated it will appeal a Labour Court ruling ordering the reinstatement of production technician Roderick Munnick, Daily Maverick reported on 18 October.

Judge Molatelo Robert Makhura ruled in September that Munnick’s 2016 dismissal was substantively unfair. The dispute followed workplace picketing at Aspen’s Gqeberha operation and an allegation that Munnick had encouraged employees to participate.

According to the report, the court found insufficient evidence that his emails had influenced employees’ decision to picket. It also identified inconsistent disciplinary treatment. Aspen indicated its intention to appeal on 9 October, and Munnick filed a notice opposing the appeal.

Daily Maverick reported that Aspen declined to discuss the employee matter through the media.

Commercial perspective

The court’s findings on evidence and disciplinary consistency are relevant to employment relations at a major pharmaceutical manufacturer. Aspen’s stated intention to appeal keeps the dispute active beyond the September ruling.