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19 April 2006

It is only by organising large numbers of security industry workers that a Bargaining Council can be created to promote the rights of employees, Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana said in Atlantis, near Cape Town on Tuesday night.

He was addressing hundreds of people at the local community hall during his Imbizo of the Western Cape.

“I want a big union in the security industry that is far bigger than the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu),” he said.

“Unions in the industry cannot depend on the mercy of the Minister of Labour. They must depend on their bargaining power and their begging power,” he told cheering crowds.

The Minister said while security industry unions can pull big protest marches, he did not understand why “they cannot organise enough members to demand a Bargaining Council.”

Records show that Satawu has 20 300 members, with the other 14 unions in the sector jointly having fewer members than those belonging to Satawu.

“Employers are organised and I don’t understand why workers cannot do the same. It is unfortunate that these unions only mobilise workers when they want an 11 percent wage increase from employers,” he said.

The Minister also took a swipe at striking security industry workers who engaged in acts of violence and intimidation.

“They should realise that coercing other workers destroys their own cause. I urge workers to use democratic methods of education and persuasion rather than acts of violence,” he said.

His Imbizo ends today (Wednesday), with his address to stakeholders and the Department of Labour staff in the mother city.

Enquiries: Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168

Issued by: Department of Labour
19 April 2006