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The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) calls on labour unions to engage in a conciliatory and cooperative manner when discussing wages. A cooperative approach to wage negotiations will hopefully preclude industrial action and work stoppages. Government, business, labour and communities have a shared responsibility to ensure that South African workers remain productive at sustainable wages with the minimal interference to output.

It is concerning that South Africa has accepted that this time of year is referred to as “strike season” – SACCI suggests that all the social partners turn this paradigm on its head and make it a season of communication and debate. The relationship between workers and employers in general has fallen into distrust to the detriment of the economy. Rebuilding this relationship will take time and patience, but most importantly, a willingness by all parties to act reasonably and responsibly.

The tragic events at Marikana showed that undisciplined and violent protest action leads to loss of life, worker intimidation and/or destruction of property. South Africa is a democracy where the rights of workers must be respected, whether they choose to continue to work or to participate in legal industrial action. SACCI therefore calls on labour unions to enforce discipline on their members in the unfortunate event of industrial action taking place.

SACCI will host discussions between senior government officials, business leaders and labour leaders on the South African labour market and measures to improve the relationship between workers and employers at the SACCI Annual Convention on the 4th and 5th of October 2012 (visit sacci.org.za for further details).