TRANSPORT UNIONS TABLE NOTICE OF PROTEST ACTION
REGARDING PORTS CONCESSIONING
Issued by Nedlac
13 May 2003
The COSATU-affiliated South African Transport and Allied Workers
Union, SATAWU, together with the FEDUSA-affiliated United Transport
and Allied Union, UTATU and United Association of South Africa,
UASA, today tabled a notice to NEDLAC (National Economic
Development and Labour Council) of possible protest action
regarding ports concessioning.
The notice is directed at Government, and at the Ministry of
Public Enterprises in particular.
The unions say the reason for the possible protest action is
insufficient consultation with regard to the National Commercial
Ports White Paper and the concessioning of the Durban Container
Terminal and other South African ports. They say further that there
has been no Parliamentary and NEDLAC debate on this policy.
The notice will be forwarded to Nedlac's Standing Committee on
Section 77 notices, which will give an opinion on whether the
notice meets the criteria for Section 77 protest action as set out
in the Labour Relations Act. If the committee finds that it does
meet the criteria, a meeting of the union and the parties specified
in the notice will be called
Background
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.
Contact: SATAWU: 011 333 6127
Contact Nedlac: Jennifer Wilson on 011 328 4211or 083 652
8524