Solidarity declares formal dispute with government over retrenchments

Solidarity today took an unusual step by declaring a formal dispute with the government at NEDLAC. The dispute concerns the wave of retrenchments in South Africa and the role of the government in it, in terms of section 77 of the Labour Relations Act.

The dispute follows Solidarity writing a letter to President Ramaphosa explaining the crisis and proposing action. However, the President did not respond to the letter. Solidarity also previously wrote to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Parks Tau, warning of the coming crisis. A proposed trade framework was also sent to President Ramaphosa, and once again, there was no response to the letter.

Therefore, Solidarity says it has no choice but to enter into a dispute with the government to force it to come to the table.

According to Solidarity, the retrenchment notices received by the union in the past month directly and indirectly affect approximately 350,000 people. Solidarity expects this number to increase drastically within the next three months.

Solidarity is now asking that other trade unions, employers and community organisations also declare disputes with the government.

The rules of NEDLAC stipulate that there must now be formal mediation between the parties.

According to Dr Dirk Hermann, CEO of Solidarity, the dispute is forcing the government to enter into a conversation.

“We experience the government as one that deals recklessly with people’s work. We trust that the dispute will put greater pressure on the government and that other role players will also enter into dispute with the government.” “South Africa must stand up for people’s jobs and for our country,” says Hermann.

According to Gideon du Plessis, general secretary of Solidarity, almost all the reasons for retrenchments and concerns about further retrenchments are related to the government.

“The reasons provided in notices and discussions with employers include poor infrastructure such as railways and ports, unpredictable power supply and electricity prices, poor policy and the government’s inability to conclude a favourable trade agreement with the government,” says Du Plessis.

Meanwhile, several role players in the US government have agreed to talk to Solidarity about its framework for a trade agreement.

Representatives of Solidarity are leaving for the USA this week to mitigate the negative consequences of the harsh trade tariffs and to help facilitate a trade agreement.

Solidarity will continue to call for pressure to be placed on the SA government to put policy conditions in place for an agreement, without punishing the country’s people. See Solidarity’s Nedlac dispute attached here.

Click here for Solidarity’s urgent letter to president Ramaphosa asking government to intervene.