Court battle likely over strike in essential services

This, says a Business Day report, follows threats by labour to put skeleton staff in place for a countrywide strike by public servants at the end of the month. Despite SA’s raft of labour laws, the unions say the government is dragging its feet and has yet to draw up agreement that will regulate the manner in which public servants employed in essential services can embark on industrial action. According to the Labour Regulations Act, a strike by workers in essential services, such as the public service and the nursing profession, is illegal. An essential service committee under the auspices of the CCMA decides whether parts of a service, or an entire service, should be designated an essential service. The committee may also change or cancel the designation of a service or part of a service, says the report. Full Business Day report

Two unions – the SA Democratic Teachers Union and the SA State and Allied Workers Union – have officially notified government of their intention to strike, says an SABC News report. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, the Public Service and Administration Minister, confirmed she had received notification from the two Cosatu unions. Eight Cosatu affiliates announced this week that May 28 would be the start of a full-blown ‘indefinite’ strike. Independent public service unions are to decide on national strike action by Friday next week, with June 4 as the likely start of an indefinite strike by the Independent Labour Caucus. Full SABC News report