Cosatu rejects DA’s proposed new law
Natalie Malgas
09 July 2014
The Congress of South
African Trade Unions has rejected the proposal by the Democratic Alliance to
move a law that would force unions to take practical steps to prevent strike
related violence.
Cosatu Spokesperson Patrick
Craven said the law which the DA is proposing would empower courts to force
employers and unions into arbitration, where strikes were excessively violent
or declare a strike unprotected.
Cosatu strongly rejects this
on constitutional grounds.
“We believe this is
unconstitutional, and against international convention on the right to withdraw
your labour,” Cosatu Spokesperson Patrick Craven said.
Craven further explained
that this proposal amounts to little more than slavery.
Meanwhile, in rebuttal, the
Democratic Alliance pointed out that in many countries around the world there
exists modern legislation allowing courts, or statutory bodies, certain powers
to suspend strikes after it has become violent.
DA MP of Labour Ian Ollis
said it is time for Cosatu to come to terms with the labour relations of the 21st
century.
Ollis added the proposed
Bill would require unions to put a number of marshals out on the road when a
protest occurs.
In addition, “unions would
educate their members on strike violence and the law on how to behave in a
public space.”
The DA further believes
unions who do not comply should have damages imposed on them.
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