PPWAWU News Dec 1996

It happened too slowly, not easy to imagine, nonetheless it happened. Minister Tito Mboweni is fairly delighted, the work is done and the new Labour Relations is in place. Is it the same word with workers. Perhaps, what is more important is to observe the provisions of the Act. It certainly brings about balanced playing fields between the business and labour movement. Unions are now allowed to organise and if necessary majority unions are now able to sign for a close shop. The majority union in a given place of employment has overriding rights and workers falling outside organised labour are not free of paying subscriptions, gone are days of labels such as ‘umdlwembe’ because all will be regarded as organised labour force. Workers have a legal status to strike which should be observed by employers, gone are the days of dismissing workers simply because they participate in the strike. We hope such a provision will stop union bash activities taking place in Kiley Baker, A C Doors and Transvaal Mattress Company