FINAL NOTICE OF INTENDED PROTEST ACTION AGAINST IGOLI 2002 TABLED AT NEDLAC 

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) in conjunction with Imatu (Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Unions) and the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) today notified Nedlac of their intention to proceed with protest action around the proposed Igoli 2002 plan. The intended protest action is scheduled to take place between 6 and 31 March.

The notice was served in terms of s77(1) of the Labour Relations Act which gives workers the right to embark on protest action to promote and protect their social and economic interests, if they follow certain procedures. Nedlac, or another appropriate forum, is required to consider the notice with a view to resolving the matter through a process of facilitation. Thereafter, if attempts at resolution fail, the union or federation may serve a second notice on Nedlac of its intention to proceed with the protest action. This second notice must be served on Nedlac at least 14-days before the protest action starts.

Fedusa's first notice of protest action was tabled at Nedlac on 27 October 1999. A meeting was held at which it was agreed to refer the matter to a mediation process that was already underway. At a meeting of Nedlac's Management Committee on 28 January, it was agreed that the mediation process to which the matter had been referred, had not resolved the issues.

The notice served by Fedusa outlines the intended protest action as follows:

• 6-10 March; 13-17 March and 20-21 March: lunch-hour pickets.
• 16 March: Full day demonstrations at civic, provincial and provincial offices
• 21 March and 24 March: Marches
• 27 - 31 March: Daily protests at civic offices from 09h00 to 15h00.

The reasons given in the notice for the intended protest action were the "resultant negative effects of implementing the Igoli 2002 plan".