Strikes in spotlight

HOSTILE attitudes between trade unionists, employers and striking workers came under scrutiny last week during a round-table discussion between those involved in labour disputes.

The discussion, hosted by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), brought together representatives from trade unions, employers’ organisations, the Police and other Government institutions to discuss the role of each during a labour dispute. Workers who bring weapons to peaceful strikes, employers who tell workers, “it’s my company, pack if you want to”, and trade unions which politicise issues in order to vilify employers were just some of the issues that needed ironing out.The session was opened by Afzul Soobedaar, a member of the Johannesburg-based Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).He insisted that, while industrial action was the constitutional right of both employee and employer, both needed to take care to solve their issues without violence, and in a manner that would ensure they continued to build on their relationship.”After the strike, your relationship will have to continue.There will be other issues to discuss, so the key is to make up and not to break up,” he said.Police Chief Inspector Derek Brune found himself having to defend the force, which during the course of discussions was blamed by some for allegedly giving the impression that they represented the interests of the employer during industrial action.The Police, Brune said, often became the perceived enemy during disputes when they were called to keep order.”We’ve seen, especially in deadlocks, when both parties are not speaking any more and are just sitting in the same room silently, that one or the other party inevitably turns their frustrations to the Police,” he said.”We are called names like Koevoet, puppets, Makakunja (soldiers).However, we are trained not to react to words such as that.”Still, Police officers were also human, he said, which meant mistakes were unfortunately made at times.”(An officer) might not act (on such insults) then, but when the time comes when you ask for protection, I’m probably saying to myself ‘you haven’t really endeared yourself to me, have you’?” Brune said to laughter from the panel.Another complaint was raised by the Secretary General of the Namibian Employers’ Federation, Tim Parkhouse.Parkhouse criticised labour unions, who he said often ran to the media to vilify employers.This only added to the empathy the general community usually felt for workers and made employers look bad, he said.Responding to this, Soobedaar cautioned both parties in a dispute not to underrate the effect the media could have on their disputes.”The media can play either a positive or a negative role,” he said.”What’s important though is that you don’t take your fight to the airwaves,” he said.Both unions and employers organisations agreed that workers need to be educated on labour issues and on how to conduct themselves during disputes.Workers who bring weapons to peaceful strikes, employers who tell workers, “it’s my company, pack if you want to”, and trade unions which politicise issues in order to vilify employers were just some of the issues that needed ironing out.The session was opened by Afzul Soobedaar, a member of the Johannesburg-based Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).He insisted that, while industrial action was the constitutional right of both employee and employer, both needed to take care to solve their issues without violence, and in a manner that would ensure they continued to build on their relationship.”After the strike, your relationship will have to continue.There will be other issues to discuss, so the key is to make up and not to break up,” he said.Police Chief Inspector Derek Brune found himself having to defend the force, which during the course of discussions was blamed by some for allegedly giving the impression that they represented the interests of the employer during industrial action.The Police, Brune said, often became the perceived enemy during disputes when they were called to keep order.”We’ve seen, especially in deadlocks, when both parties are not speaking any more and are just sitting in the same room silently, that one or the other party inevitably turns their frustrations to the Police,” he said.”We are called names like Koevoet, puppets, Makakunja (soldiers).However, we are trained not to react to words such as that.” Still, Police officers were also human, he said, which meant mistakes were unfortunately made at times.”(An officer) might not act (on such insults) then, but when the time comes when you ask for protection, I’m probably saying to myself ‘you haven’t really endeared yourself to me, have you’?” Brune said to laughter from the panel.Another complaint was raised by the Secretary General of the Namibian Employers’ Federation, Tim Parkhouse.Parkhouse criticised labour unions, who he said often ran to the media to vilify employers.This only added to the empathy the general community usually felt for workers and made employers look bad, he said.Responding to this, Soobedaar cautioned both parties in a dispute not to underrate the effect the media could have on their disputes.”The media can play either a positive or a negative role,” he said.”What’s important though is that you don’t take your fight to the airwaves,” he said.Both unions and employers organisations agreed that workers need to be educated on labour issues and on how to conduct themselves during disputes.