ANC must examine own conscience
By Flip Buys
The ANC’s Andries Nel last Sunday warned that our country is doomed if we do not resolve three issues in a satisfactory manner. The first deals with solving inequality; the second with processing the past and the third is dealing with our language and cultural differences.
The debate about inequality comes a long way. Essentially, it is about why some are richer than others – and what is being done to accomplish a more equitable distribution of wealth. This led to the development of two opposing schools of thought: freedom versus equality.
Collective agreements
Section 213 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) 66 of 1995 defines a collective agreement as follows:
‘(A) written agreement concerning terms and conditions of employment or any other matter of mutual interest concluded by one or more registered trade unions, on the one hand and, on the other hand—
- one or more employers,
- one or more registered employers’ organisations; or
- one or more employers and one or more registered employers’ organisation’.
Collective agreements form an important part of labour relations in South Africa. Collective agreements can be reached at local level (e.g. local bargaining forums) or at regional or national bargaining councils (in Solidarity’s case, the National Bargaining Council for the Chemical Industry (NBCCI) or the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC)).
Legal Question
Labour Court
Solidarity Legal Services’ Labour Court division provides a comprehensive range of services to Solidarity members. Disputes of members in terms of labour law which needs to be ruled in the Labour Court are also handled. The cases of individual and collective members are handled and services include consultations, merit determination, opinions and court papers are drawn up, exchanging plea documents, handling application of opposed motions, urgent applications and hearings.
Recently in the news
BCX deal brings greater clarity on Telkom’s future
Telkom’s intention to acquire Business Connexion (BCX), one of the largest information and communication technology companies in South Africa, will give the company’s employees greater clarity on its business strategy for the future, trade union Solidarity said today. The union moreover maintains that Telkom’s plan to acquire an established company in the IT services sector could improve its potential for profitable growth.
Campaigns
Solidarity Magazine
Read more in the latest edition
Solidarity Helping Hand
Helping Hand continues emergency relief effort in platinum belt
By Mariné Jacobs
Solidarity Helping Hand recently continued its emergency relief effort in the platinum belt by distributing food and other essentials to non-striking mineworkers.
Mothers with young infants who are part of non-striking families received nappies, formula and other baby essentials. They also received counselling as a means of encouragement in the midst of this crisis period.
AfriForum
First black farming couple murdered in Free State
AfriForum today renewed its pleas to government to declare farm murders a priority crime and establish specialist units for rural safety. This came after the deaths of Andrew and Loryn Monakane (both 39) who were brutally murdered on their farm Graigmont near Dewetsdorp in the Free State. According to the register kept by AfriForum the Monakanes were the first black farming couple who were murdered in a farm attack in the province.
Service in a nutshell
How can members access Solidarity’s services?
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 to access Solidarity’s services:
Website: www.solidariteit.co.za
SMS: SMS ‘SOL’ to 34388
E-mail: navrae@solidariteit.co.za / diens@solidariteit.co.za
Fax: 012 664 6493 / tel.: 0861 25 24 23Growth involves more than just membership numbers – it also concerns infrastructure, service delivery, systems, activities, communications and people. Solidarity is bigger and stronger than ever before and our mission is still the same: we protect our people.
What to do when you receive an enquiry
1. Access the webpage at the link www.verteenwoordiger.co.za.
2. Sign in using your e-mail address as your user name and your ID number as your password.To improve the support given to, and communication with shop stewards, a shop stewards’ webpage was created. The aim of the webpage is to offer a one-stop service to shop stewards by giving them access to advice, articles, useful documents, important dates, contact details, news, and so on.
Lizel Viljoen, labour relations coordinator at Solidarity, manages the shop stewards’ webpage and handles e-mails and telephonic enquires received from shop stewards. Lizel obtained an LLB degree and a BCom Law degree from the University of Pretoria. She has been working at the trade union since 2010 and has consistently been involved in matters relating to shop stewards.
Shop stewards can contact us at diens@solidariteit.co.za if they need assistance regarding enquiries.
If you’re unable to sign in on www.verteenwoordiger.co.za, your e-mail address still needs to be registered on the webpage. Send an e-mail to elektronies@solidariteit.co.za and request access to www.verteenwoordiger.co.za in order to register.
Big cases
If a case/situation that you are involved in becomes newsworthy, please contact Solidarity’s media team. Send an e-mail to wenk@solidariteit.co.za.
Important dates
- 10 -12 June: intermediate-level shop steward training in the Pretoria and Kathu area
- 24 -26 June: intermediate-level shop steward training in the New Castle and Polokwane area.
Watch this space for the rest of the year’s training dates.
| Visit: www.verteenwoordiger.co.za | Subscribe/Unsubscribe |
|---|