A draft bill which would have held trade unions responsible for vandalism and theft by their members during strikes was on Wednesday rejected by the African National Congress (ANC) majority in the parliamentary portfolio committee on labour.
The bill‚ written by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Ian Ollis‚ would also have allowed the labour court to intervene when a strike turns violent.
Ollis cited the many cases when small businesses and street stall vendors have been robbed by marauding workers on strike when they turn to the streets and start looting.
Cars and shop windows are also often vandalised‚ but the victims have very little chance of compensation unless they can identify the specific culprit.
Furthermore‚ Ollis argued that it is necessary to maintain the right to strike‚ but that violence had to be combatted.
The ANC majority on the committee rejected the bill for three reasons.
First‚ they argued that‚ despite Ollis’s assurances‚ it limited the right to strike.
Second‚ they held that the eventualities Ollis wanted to legislate for were already covered by common law and by the Gatherings Act.
This‚ however‚ was hotly disputed by Ollis and his DA colleagues‚ who said the current setup favoured litigation and simply made lawyers rich.
Third‚ the ANC said such issues were already being discussed by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). This ANC contention was also dismissed by the DA members‚ who pointed out that Nedlac was discussing compulsory mediation‚ which is unconstitutional.
Nevertheless‚ the ANC voted the bill down by 4 votes to 2‚ and the bill died there. – Parliament Bureau
Strike damages draft bill voted down in committee
The bill‚ written by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Ian Ollis‚ would also have allowed the labour court to intervene when a strike turns violent.
Ollis cited the many cases when small businesses and street stall vendors have been robbed by marauding workers on strike when they turn to the streets and start looting.
Cars and shop windows are also often vandalised‚ but the victims have very little chance of compensation unless they can identify the specific culprit.
Furthermore‚ Ollis argued that it is necessary to maintain the right to strike‚ but that violence had to be combatted.
The ANC majority on the committee rejected the bill for three reasons.
First‚ they argued that‚ despite Ollis’s assurances‚ it limited the right to strike.
Second‚ they held that the eventualities Ollis wanted to legislate for were already covered by common law and by the Gatherings Act.
This‚ however‚ was hotly disputed by Ollis and his DA colleagues‚ who said the current setup favoured litigation and simply made lawyers rich.
Third‚ the ANC said such issues were already being discussed by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). This ANC contention was also dismissed by the DA members‚ who pointed out that Nedlac was discussing compulsory mediation‚ which is unconstitutional.
Nevertheless‚ the ANC voted the bill down by 4 votes to 2‚ and the bill died there. – Parliament Bureau
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos