The Labour Appeal Court confirmed the fair dismissal of 19 employees involved in strike-related misconduct at Polyoak Packaging, clarifying how interdict breaches, video evidence, and consistent disciplinary standards influence dismissal disputes.

The Labour Appeal Court in SACCAWU v Putini re-affirmed that labour disputes must be resolved swiftly and that unions and employers may not abuse procedural rules to delay justice. After years of litigation over a 2010 dismissal and a CCMA reinstatement award made an order of court under section 158(1)(c) of the LRA, the LAC upheld the appeal but confirmed the employee’s right to reinstatement and ordered SACCAWU to pay costs.