SA’s Labour Relations lies in tatters. The timebomb is ticking.

Rael Solomon – The SA labour relations timebomb is ticking

Rael Solomon eats, sleeps and drinks labour relations. Has done so for decades. A qualified engineer, he long ago switched to make his living as a labour consultant. As one who sees things from the coalface, it’s not surprising that Solomon has strong views about the way the current chaos and threatened explosion. AMCU, he warns, is a ticking time bomb. The playing field has altered. Best those who are able to do something about it appreciate this fact. And stop ignoring it in the hope the problem will go away. – AH 

By Rael Solomon*

Workers are casting aside Trade Unions and using unprotected strikes, knobkerries and now terrorism and sabotage by plunging large swathes of Johannesburg into darkness. The strikes’ silly season continues unabated.

Marikana heralded a new chapter of Labour Relations in South Africa when a structured, ableit union-dominated system of negotiation was replaced by militancy and unprotected strikes.

Job creation should be the name of the game. But the confrontational approach by unions is forcing mines and other businesses to automate and mechanise  to avoid endless disruptions. With the ruling ANC focussing on election politics, what chance for South Africa?

The ANC needs to step in with a strong proactive labour relations policy that abandons its foundation of vote-catching. SA’s labour laws are more than adequate. But the way they are enforced is the heart of the problem. The ANC needs to start enforcing the laws to put end unprotected strikes. It needs to apply rule of law.

At the first sign of trouble at Marikana senior ANC officials should have played a mediation and proactive role. The party’s new vice president, ex-union boss Cyril Ramaposa, has the necessary experience and stature to intervene. Also, he no longer needs worry about his share holdings and directorships. Our cop boss Riah Phiyega was like a bull in a china shop in labour relations. Her interventions at Marikana only exacerbated the situation.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday, DA MP Sej Motau said a report confirmed that government had “all but lost control” of labour in South Africa as strikes hit a five year high.

The Retail Motor Industry (RMI) has been granted an urgent interdict by the Johannesburg Labour Court to prevent violence by striking petrol attendants and car repair workers. The interdict was obtained on Tuesday 17th September, said RMI CEO Jakkie Olivier. COSATU said on 21st September is angry the parties are taking so long to settle the strikeIn England it was Margaret Thatcher who destroyed the power of the unions. In SA, the unions appear to be on a path of self-destruction as manifest by COSATU’s infighting.The wildcat strike by Metro Power workers plunged swathes of Johannesburg into darkness. It has been likened to urban terrorism, with even Nelson Mandela put at risk. The cause of the strike can be attributed to the manner in which a new shift system was introduced without calculating the effect on the earning capacity of key workers.

The fabric of a carefully woven system of union dominated working relationships all but lies in tatters. Today trade unions are fighting for their future with union bosses who had established cosy relationships with employers now having their every move questioned by disgruntled workers.

Not only mega industries like mining are feeling the impact. Small to medium sized enterprises are having to adjust to the new reality of having to negotiate directly with workers. The bargaining process is becoming totally unstructured, with employers having to find new ways to engage.

Union members are currently threatening COSATU with court action over the suspension of Zwelenzima Vavi, the organization’s head, who is himself taking legal action. This follows on the heels of the war between AMCU (Amalgamated Mineworkers and Construction Union) and NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) the two leading mining unions whose clash resulted in the deaths of 42 at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine.

Each member union is now making totally unrealistic demands on employers to maintain membership numbers, In the recent Harmony gold mining strike and the related construction industry strikes, crazy demands were made by the unions. These strikes came to an end when workers accepted increases, no thanks to the unions, in the region of 10 % and returned to work. UASA accepted the offer but AMCU called it a joke.

A deal was signed with NUM in the gold sector but AMCU is still holding out and threatening strike action – “Shades of Marikana.” Any agreement is important but, with unemployment over 25% and inflation creeping towards 7%, it would be foolish to think that the strikes and violence will soon be over.

 

* Rael Solomon Pr Eng, is a business and labour advisor

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