The Syndicate

red car brigade. Colleagues and I attending a Conference in the Drakensberg Mountains many moons ago. My company car far left

Prolecon battle

I worked for a Courier company that was based on the model of Federal Express in America. The directors of that company sold everything they owned including homes and cars to start the company from scratch. I knew all of them well.

It went well for many years in the company I was working as a Supervisor at The George Branch on the Southern Coastline of the Cape Province in South Africa, During that time I noticed a lot of irregularities with the manager of the branch running it as if it was her own business. She bargained on her sister high up in the Company In Johannesburg to protect her,

The end of that story was I became the manager of the branch as she was removed after it was found that she transgressed a lot of company policy and has been doing so long before I joined.

The branch was performing poorly and staff morale was at an ebb. That resulted in numerous vehicle accidents caused by arrant staff taking “revenge”. I turned the branch around and was summoned to Head Office. I was going to be given a larger branch to manage as an Operations manager in Pretoria(Now Tshwane)

During all of this the company signed a recognition agreement with an Union and was subsequently unionised. I remember distinctly during strike action some Shop stewards visiting my branch to garner support for their planned actions. I welcomed them letting HQ know about their presence without them knowing.

I had my ups and downs in the company and started working in the Parts O.E.M. sector. We distributed parts for major Car manufacturers in South Africa. I was promoted to account Executive in the sector.

I did well and brought on board several companies and during all of this the Directors noticed how my Human Recourses skills have grown as I chaired many disciplinary hearings on the company’s behalf. So much so I was utilised for this countrywide and got known as the Hangman by the Union as my cases were always successful right up to Arbitration level.

I knew well about the Unions tactics in all of this and encountered it face on at the largest branch of the Company in Johannesburg. This branch was brought to its knees and manager after manager failed to turn it around and then I was called in again to see if I could save the Company as this branches’ failure impacted negatively on the entire Company.

There was a lady in charge when I arrived there the first time. The National Operations manager visited and asked me about my observations. I told him she failed to control the place as she buckled under Union pressure and was basically turned into a switch board operator as all queries were channelled directly to her and all she did all day long was killing fires.

This was a deliberate Union ploy as there were Radio Room operators and a call centre that was responsible for queries. This manager could not manage because they used her to answer queries the entire day.

I was asked to manage the branch as a matter of urgency and was promised support from Head Office in doing so. There was a plan to infiltrate the branch with undercover workers that would feed me with information. I shall never forget me instructing the Operations manager to choose staff he trusted as we had to make changes and he hired my two undercover operatives doing me a huge favour without knowing it.

Those two guys did an excellent job and was trusted to such an extent they were present at Union Meetings. I received all the evidence I needed and in the mean time I had staff trained elsewhere to fill key positions as soon as I got rid of the main culprits.

I source this staff from the multi-racial communities far away from the branch. I only chose the best I could trust and knew would be loyal. My investigations lasted three months and  a lot of the time I worked from home with two hired secretaries to keep my investigation a secret as I was told I am be followed all over by union members through our radio rooms.

I uncovered a large theft syndicate and as soon as I completed a presentation for the directors on what was happening and told them how I thought the process should be handled as my life could well be in danger. Our Regional Operations Manager supported me and we worked on an exit plan for the people identified of being syndicate members and benefitting from it by selling customers products on the streets in Johannesburg directly from our company vehicles.

I had taped telephone conversations and undercover evidence from the two agents as well as video footage taken by their handler. It was time to act and I knew there was going to be hell to play from Union ranks.

I had all key personnel including myself do lie detector tests to boost our chances of successful labour action.

The day arrived to fire the main suspects and they were called into my office one by one with CCTV footage running of every conversation and personal body guards placed in key positions. There were also armed security personnel outside.

That day I fired 43 staff and each was escorted off the premises by armed guards. As soon as the last one left their replacements was bussed in and we used the ploy to say they were recruited from other courier companies and were familiar with the industry.

I could now turn the branch around and did so successfully over a three month period.

The two secretaries at home were working over time preparing evidence for the hearings of theses dismissed personnel and there was a mountain of evidence to filter through. First we had a mass Conciliation hearing with me representing the company and our HR manager on the premises to guide me when needed.

Then followed hearings for each and every person involved and afterwards they all appealed so there were appeal hearings. It went right up to Arbitration at the (CCMA) The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. The complete process lasted a full two hears.

Death threats against me was delivered to our Head Office and I was permanently guarded by body guards and that included my family and our home were armed security was deployed 24/7

This was a massive undertaking taking its toll on my health as it was stressful to the supreme and all Union accused attended each and every hearing being aggressive and threatening towards me and my armed body guards. The Evidence pile had to be carted along with physical evidence of stolen goods being bought back by the company.

By now the Agents cover was blown and they also needed protection. It was the most stressful and draining period of my life but I persevered.

In the end we successfully ended the Arbitration hearings by winning every single case. I was the sole company representative during all of this facing the Union Advocates without being allowed company support during these proceedings.

I had help preparing the agents and witnesses. Human Resources gave me full support during this but that was it they were not allowed into the hearings themselves and was up to me.

In the end I received a cash bonus and a letter from the then CEO, Alan Howie saluting me for doing something never achieved  in the history of the Transport Industry in South Africa.