2. Labour Relations Act Flashcards
When did it come into effect?
11 November 1996
What is it based on?
The Constitution
What does it provide?
Basic legal framework for the SA labour relations system
Main objectives
• Enforce fundaments rights grantees by section 23 Constitution
• Enforce SA’s international obligations - member of International Labour Organisation
• Provide framework collective bargaining - trade and employees
• Promote effective resolution of labour disputes - employee particulars decision making in workplace
What does the Act contain?
Basic rules and mechanisms - use control communication, bargain or negotiate relationships between employers and employees
Who does the Act apply to?
Every employer and employee
Who does the Act not apply to?
National Defence Force, National Intelligence Agency and South African Secret Service
What issues does the Act contain?
Freedom of association, Trade Unions, strikes and lockouts, collective bargaining, dispute resolution to unfair labour practice, unfair dismissal
What is it founded on?
Common-law contract of employment (individual relationship)
What is the content described in?
Statues and collective agreements that are negotiated between employers and trade unions
What are individual and collective relationships subject to?
International labour standards and provisions of the South African Constitution of 1996
What is the highest law of South Africa?
The Constitution
Whats up can’t the state do with rights?
Not able to pass legislation which takes rights in the Constitution away
Instead what can they do with these rights?
Place restrictions on how rights are exercised
Define trade union
Any number of employees in a particular undertaking, industry, trade or occupation associated together for the purpose of regulating relations in that undertaking, industry, trade or occupation between employees and employers
Define employer organisation
Enables employees to work together to negotiate with trade unions in a specific industry
What does the Constitution guarantee?
Principle of Freedom of Association
What does the Freedom of Association allow?
Employees the right to join a trade union of choice
Vice versa
How can trade unions and employer organisations make use of procedures?
Registered
Registration requirements of trade unions and employer organisations
- Proper constitution
- Constitution must be consistent with LRA
- Union not formed to evade law or not affiliated to any political party
Why is registration important?
Gives certain rights to trade unions
What is an important right of trade unions?
Allow to be party to Bargaining and Statutory council
What does a Statutory council mean?
Wages and conditions of employment can be negotiated that may be made binding by law
How does an employee pay a trade union?
Deduct trade union membership fee from wages of employees
How does an employee pay a trade union?
Deduct trade union membership fee from wages of employees
What actions may the employer not prevent with trade unions?
Engage in union action and hold meetings at work place
What is the main aim of the trade union?
Engage in collective bargaining with employers on behalf of members
What will the trade union advise?
Advise and represent members on conditions of service, grievances and disciplinary issues, labour relations issues
Name functions of trade unions
- Protecting rights of workers, ensure fair treatment workers
- Improve conditions of employment
- Represent members in negotiations w employers
- Represent employees in disciplinary issues
- Advising employees in labour relations issues
- Strive achieve industrial peace while influencing policies and decisions regarding labour issues
Improving conditions of service/employment
• Salaries
• Employee benefits
• Job security
• Physical work environment (safety)
What is the best interest of a healthy economy?
Maintain industrial peace through effective Industrial Relations (IR)
What two issues does collective bargaining cover?
- Contract negotiations between employers (Employer organisations)
- Trade Unions (handling of grievances)
Define strike
Temporary, collective refusal of employees to work in order to put pressure on the employer to agree to the demands of the workers
Define go-slow
Workers continue to work but slow down to reduce productivity
What pre-empts a full strike?
Go slow
Define work to rule
Workers stick to the letter of their contracts, reducing productivity
Define picketing
Group of employees demonstrating outside the place of work to show their dissatisfaction with a certain issues
Does picketing disrupt work?
No work is disrupted
Define lock-out
Refusal on part of an employer to allow employees to continue to work unless they expect certain conditions of employer