REVISED EDITION

Labour Relationsin South AfricaEditor ROBERT VENTER

Contributors MATTHEW GROSSETT

STEPHEN HILLS

OXFORDUNIVERSITY PRESS

Contents

Foreword viiiAcknowledgements and dedications ixCopyright acknowledgements x

An introduction to labour relations l1.1 What is labour relations? 31.2 Defining labour relations 31.3 The origins of labour relations 41.4 The major theories on labour relations 71.5 The parties to the employment relationships

and their respective roles 91.6 The environment for labour relations in South Africa 181.7 Conclusion 29

The historical development of South Africanlabour relations 322.1 Introduction 332.2 The origins of South African labour law 342.3 The industrial era - the introduction of the colour bar 342.4 Towards an industrial conciliation mechanism 362.5 The 1930s to the 1970s 382.6 The Wiehahn Commission of Inquiry into Labour

Legislation: Towards the deracialization of SouthAfrican labour relations 41

2.7 The eighties 422.8 The nineties: An ethos of change 432.9 1999 and beyond: Challenges for South African

labour relations 462.10 Conclusion 46

Comparative analysis: Mexico, Poland,and South Africa 493.1 Introduction 50

111

6

3.23.33.43.5

framework tor analysisThe Mexican situationThe Polish situationConclusion

Participants in South Africa'slabour relations system4.1

4.2

4.34.4

4.5

The5.15.2

5.35.4

5.5

5.65.7

The6.16.26.3

6.46.56.66.7

6.8

Introduction: The tripartite relationship inindustrial relationsThe stateEmployees and trade unionsEmployers and employers' organizationsConclusion

economics of labour relationsIntroductionThe demand and supply of labourThe marginal productivity of labourMonopolies and monopsoniesMarginal utility of wages and thebackward-bending supply curveIntervention in the labour marketConclusion

South African labour marketIntroductionUnemploymentEducation and trainingAIDS in the workplaceAffirmative actionLabour productivity and the economyAn evaluation of the Growth, Employmentand Redistribution (GEAR) strategyConclusion

50515660

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8490

92

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114117

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129134

137

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7 The South African labour legislative framework 1427.1 Introduction 148

7.2 Contract of employment 1487.3 The Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 1667.4 The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 1927.5 The Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 2027.6 The Compensation for Occupational Injuries

and Diseases Act 130 of 1993 204

7.7 The Unemployment Insurance Act 63 of 2001 2067.8 The Unemployment Insurance Contributions

Act 4 of 2002 2097.9 The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 2097.10 The Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 215.7.11 The Skills Development Levies Act 9 of1999 2167.12 The labour amendment Acts: A commentary 2197.13 The Insolvency Amendment Bill 223

7.14 Conclusion 224

8 Managing labour relations in the workplace 2398.1 Introduction 2428.2 Discipline and dismissal 2448.3 Procedural fairness 2458.4 Substantive fairness 2538.5 Dismissals based on operational requirements 2768.6 Grievance and disciplinary procedures 2848.7 The disciplinary code and procedure 289

8.8 Conclusion 294

9 Collective bargaining and organizational rights 3499.1 Introduction 3509.2 The duty to bargain 3509.3 Organizational rights 3519.4 The collective bargaining process 3549.5 Conclusion 363

Negotiation10.110.2

10.3

10.410.510.610.7

IntroductionDefining negotiationInternal and external factors impactingon negotiationsNegotiating tacticsNegotiating strategiesThe negotiating processConclusion

10 Negotiation 365367367

368

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374

375

379

11 Dispute resolution 38111.1 Introduction 38311.2 The concept and nature of labour disputes 38311.3 Methods of dispute resolution 38411.4 Dispute resolution under the Labour

relations Act 66 of 1995 39011.5 Conclusion 405

12 Worker participation in South Africa 43812.1 Introduction 44012.2 Defining worker participation 44112.3 Objectives of worker participation 44112.4 Forms of worker participation 44612.5 Implementing worker participation 44812.6 Essential ingredients for the success of a

worker participation 45612.7 Impediments to worker participation 46312.8 Conclusion 465

13 Industrial action 46913.1 Introduction 47013.2 Progressions in the law on strikes 47113.3 Strike action 47413.4 Lockout 47913.5 Protected strikes and lockouts under the

1995 Labour Relations Act 480

13.6 Secondary strikes 48113.7 Strikes and lockouts in response to dismissals

for operational requirements 482

13.8 Limitations on the right to strike or recourseto lockout 483

13.9 Strikes and lockouts in compliance with the Act 48413.10 Strikes and lockouts not in compliance with the Act 48513.11 Specific provisions relating to the right to strike 487

13.12 The practicalities of strike management 49513.13 Conclusion 495

14 Labour relations in South Africa: Some futurepatterns and predictions 51914.1 Introduction 52014.2 The Southern African Development Council,

the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union,

the International Labour Organization and NEPAD 52014.3 The continuing role of the Commission for Conciliation,

Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) 522

14.4 The National Economic Development andLabour Council (NEDLAC) 522

14.5 The ANC-COSATU alliance 52214.6 Labour market flexibility and international

compensation 52314.7 The changing face of the employment relationship 52514.8 HIV/AIDS: Implications and strategies 52614.9 Conclusion 526

Index 529

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