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In a letter addressed to Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, trade union Solidarity this week called on the minister to intervene as a matter of urgency in the matters of the ailing Bargaining Council for the Metal and Engineering Industry (MEIBC). This comes in the wake of the ongoing financial crisis the bargaining council has been plunged into in recent years, as well as the inability of parties in the council to reach agreement on a number of issues.

According to Solidarity’s Deputy General Secretary for the Metal and Engineering Industry Marius Croucamp, the MEIBC’s financial position has lately deteriorated to such an extent that the council has been unable to fulfil its dispute resolution function for some time already.

“The reality is that the MEIBC will have to finally dissolve within three months if the parties in question cannot agree to the expansion and increase of the Administration and Dispute Resolution Levy Agreements at the next management committee meeting. The current agreement expires on 1 June this year, after which the MEIBC would be without its sole source of income,” Croucamp explained.

Croucamp said the only way to ensure the future of the MEIBC will be to facilitate the conflict between the parties at the highest level and to reach consensus on the way forward. “Urgent high level deliberation on the Bargaining Council’s finances is essential and urgent steps need to be taken to improve the administration and management of the Bargaining Council. This is crucial to ensure the future of the Council,” Croucamp said.

Croucamp explained that the MEIBC plays a vital role in the metal and engineering industry and should it cease to exist it would bring many negative consequences for the industry. “The MEIBC regulates several key labour issues under a main agreement, the contents of which are renegotiated annually by the various parties in the industry. Included are issues such as hours of work, wages, changes to basic conditions of employment and dispute resolution.

Therefore, the bargaining council ensures orderly collective bargaining at a central level where conflict can be regulated and managed more efficiently. Should the bargaining council dissolve, it could lead to widespread strikes and labour unrest in the industry,” Croucamp warned.

In its letter addressed to the Minister on Wednesday, Solidarity urges the Minister to intervene and tackle the above issues before the next management committee meeting takes place on 25 May. Solidarity is still awaiting feedback from the Minister.

See Solidarity’s letter to the minister attached.

Issued by Solidarity