NOTICE OF INTENDED PROTEST ACTION AGAINST EUROPEAN
UNION, DEPARTMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE MANAGEMENT AND BIG FISHING
COMPANIESTABLED AT NEDLAC
The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) hastabled a notice of
possible protest action against the Department of Coastal and
MarineManagement and large fishing companies. FAWU believes there
has been insufficientconsultation with stakeholders by government
over negotiations with the European Unionregarding the fishing
industry in the Western Cape. The union is also concerned over
themanner in which fishing quotas are allocated.
In terms of the notice served, FAWU intends toembark on the
protest action to ensure that:
- workers and communities are consulted in respect of European
Union negotiations and that research into the effects of the
negotiations on workers and their communities is carried out
- South Africa's marine resources are protected by ensuring that
no agreements are entered that permit foreign companies to fish in
South African waters
- no further quotas are allocated to fishing companies that
retrench workers but rather to allocate quotas to companies that
create jobs
The union is also calling for an investigationinto corruption at
the Department of Coastal and Marine Management and for
transformationat the Department and in the fishing industry.
The notice was tabled in terms of Section 77 ofthe Labour
Relations Act, which allows registered trade unions or federations
of tradeunions to undertake protest action to promote and protect
the social and economicinterests of
workers, if they follow certain procedures.
Beforeembarking on protest action, the trade union
concerned is required to serve notice onNedlac stating the reasons
for the protest action and the intended nature of the
protestaction. The Act requires the Nedlac parties to meet with the
trade union and the partiesat whom the notice is directed, to
consider the issues raised. Should the issues remainunresolved
after thorough consideration, workers are entitled to participate
in protectedprotest action 14 days after serving a second notice on
Nedlac of their intention toproceed with the action.
The union has indicated that the proposed protestaction will
take the form of marching on the premises of the parties concerned
andpicketing outside their premises. There will also be a call for
a stay-a-way.
The first meeting at Nedlac to discuss the issuesraised by FAWU
is scheduled for next week.