SATAWU TABLES NOTICE OF PROTEST ACTION REGARDING THE BUS
INDUSTRY
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, together
with other trade unions in the bus industry, TGWU, TAWU and WCOSU,
has tabled a notice to the National Economic Development and Labour
Council, Nedlac, of possible protest action directed at the
National Department of Transport, the nine provincial departments
of transport and the South African Bus Operators Association
(SABOA).
Satawu says the reason for the
possible protest action concerns an agreement reached in
September 1999 between government, the employers' association and
trade unions regarding the restructuring of the bus industry. The
agreement regulates competition in the form of a tender system for
contract services in the bus industry. Satawu says that the
agreement has a number of deficiencies which have led to
substantial job losses in the industry and to a serious decline in
service delivery.
Satawu's notice specifies a number of demands, including that
the parties renegotiate various clauses of the agreement.
The notice was tabled in terms of Section 77 of the Labour
Relations Act, which allows registered trade unions or federations
of trade unions to undertake protest action to promote and protect
the social and economic interests of workers, if they follow
certain procedures. Before embarking on protest action, the trade
union concerned is required to serve notice on Nedlac stating the
reasons for the protest action and the intended nature of the
protest action. The Act requires the Nedlac parties to meet with
the trade union and the parties at whom the notice is directed, to
consider the issues raised. Should the issues remain unresolved
after thorough consideration, workers are entitled to participate
in protected protest action 14 days after serving a second notice
on Nedlac of their intention to proceed with the action.
The notice has been forwarded to Nedlac's standing committee on
Section 77 notices, which will be required to call a meeting of the
parties.
Issued by Nedlac
10 October 2001
Jennifer Wilson
Communications Coordinator
Nedlac
(011) 482-2511
fax: 482 4650
083 652 8524 (note new number)