The National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) has come under attack over its effectiveness once again, with unions complaining about mechanisms used in the issuing of section 77 certificates.
A section 77 certificate is provided for in the Labour Relations Act and is meant to give workers protected status when they protest for the promotion or in defence of socioeconomic moves and goals.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) said it would protest outside the annual Nedlac summit in Johannesburg on Friday, to demonstrate its frustration with the council. Saftu said there were "suspicions" Nedlac’s stalling in issuing section 77 certification was a deliberate ploy to frustrate non-Cosatu aligned unions.
The recent granting of a strike certificate to its rival Cosatu was met with ire.
Cosatu filed its applications to protest at the Union Buildings, calling for an end to state capture and corruption in July.
Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said there was nothing sinister about Cosatu’s successful bid, saying the Nedlac process was often technical and the federation had simply ensured it met all requirements before approaching the council.
The general secretary of the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa), Dennis George, echoed Pamla’s sentiments. Fedusa’s own application for a protest against lack of competency at state-owned companies was filed in January and has not yet received the green light.
"There’s nothing sinister in it taking a little bit longer to try to resolve, the processes are complex," said George.
Saftu said its protest on Friday was also to pressure Nedlac to consider its affiliation to the council. Spokesman Patrick Craven said current parties seemed to be "colluding" to keep the federation out of Nedlac.
Cosatu, Fedusa and the National Council of Trade Unions are at present the only members of the labour constituency in the council.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) also expressed dissatisfaction with the section 77 process carried out by Nedlac after its application to protest against job losses in the mining industry was declined.
It threatened to apply for a strike certificate at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, should a second application be turned down.
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