Labour Department 'not taking aim' at Saftu

The Employment and Labour Department has said it is not using new strike ballot rules to take aim at Cosatu’s rival, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), reports the Mail & Gaurdian. In the wake of the labour registrar’s decision to deregister the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA (Demawusa), department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said all unions have been warned that failure to comply with strike balloting rules would have ramifications. ‘Irrespective of whether they are affiliated with the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) federations or not, all have been made aware of the consequences.’ The report says a relatively small union, Demawusa was founded in 2015 in reaction to corruption allegations at the Cosatu-affiliated South African Municipal Workers’ Union. Demawusa joined Saftu, which has not yet been given a seat at Nedlac. The report says Demawusa’s deregistration makes it the first casualty of the strike ballot provision, which requires trade unions to conduct a vote in secret before embarking on industrial action.

A Cape Times report says the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) has ordered municipalities to stop dealing with Demawusa, after it was deregistered. In a circular sent to municipal managers, human resource directors and employees, SALGBC general secretary Bill Govender said Demawusa’s organisational rights should be immediately terminated and deduction of subscriptions from its members should be stopped. The circular was also sent to the two recognised unions – the SA Municipal Workers’ Union and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union – as well as the representative organisation of employers, the SA Local Government Association.