POPCRU will go to the highest court in the land over restructuring within SAPS
26 January 2016
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has noted how certain media houses and the SAPS management have termed the outcomes of last week’s Labour Court on the matter between POPCRU and the South African Police Services (SAPS), which created a false impression to the public that there was defeat on our part.
We want to categorically put it on record that there was no such defeat on our part, and what remains factual is that the SAPS contravened a collective agreement 02/2009 of the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), in particular, clause 4.1 and 4.4 which requires the SAPS to have meaningful consultation with the union prior to the implementation of changes relating to restructuring and changes to the organisation of work.
Claiming to have meaningfully consulted and engaged us is deliberate misinformation by the SAPS management, and contrary to this collective agreement, the SAPS unanimously implemented the changes to the organisational structure and restructured prior to consultation with stakeholders.
It is on this basis that we approached the Labour Court with an urgent application to interdict the acting National Commissioner - Khomotso Phahlane from making any further implementations in this regard, so as to allow the SSSBC to conciliate on the matter between the involved parties.
Emanating from Sunday’s press conference addressed by the seemingly triumphant Minister of Police and his right-hand-man, it is clear they are to continue restructuring, as they boldly state.
It is imperative to appreciate that we will not let this matter slide. We will not allow for any space that seeks to undermine the role of unions, and will not let individuals determine members’ destiny without consultation as this compromises the very service delivery we all wish to uphold.
We are still pursuing this matter, and should we find grounds to appeal we will take the matter to the Labour Appeal Court and further to the Highest Court in the Land to allow justice and law to take its course.
We want to assure our members and the public that the unfounded rumour of defeat is a gross misconception, we will take the battle forward.
Issued by POPCRU, 26 January 2016
