Violence during strikes not acceptable - Oliphant
Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant has urged parties in the chemical, metal and engineering sectors to continue to meaningfully engage and endeavour to reach an agreement on wages and conditions of employment. Oliphant was commenting on the current wave of industrial actions arising from the annual round of collective bargaining in the private sector.
"The industry is critical to the economy of the country and a prolonged industrial action is certainly not in the public interest, hence the appeal that the parties must endeavour to find a solution", Oliphant said.
Oliphant said the parties should strive at all times to build on the strength of the country's collective bargaining system. Where settlements are not achievable, workers have the right to strike and to protest peacefully as embodied in the Constitution of South Africa.
She, however, warned that violent behaviour during strikes is not acceptable. "It undermines the system of collective bargaining in this country and this violent behaviour serves only to bring legitimate negotiations into suspect. I, therefore, strongly appeal to trade unions and workers to conduct their strikes in a peaceful manner", said the Minister.
"The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has been involved in supporting parties through facilitation in some sectors and they remain available to assist. Where negotiators experience difficulty, they are urged to consider the services of the CCMA", Oliphant said.
The Minister called on the Labour Federations to constantly brief their affiliates about the progress being made at Nedlac with regards to the labour broking phenomenon.
Statement issued by Mzobanzi Jikazana, Ministerial Spokesperson, Labour, July 13 2011
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