Solidarity goes to court for the right of all its members to strike in solidarity with Sasol workers

12th September 2018

Trade union Solidarity will approach the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg tomorrow for the right of its 180 000 members to go on strike in solidarity with Sasol employees and against racial exclusion in employee share schemes.  

This follows after the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) refused an application from Solidarity to protest against exclusive employee share schemes. Solidarity will bring the application in terms of section 77 of the Labour Relations Act, which gives workers the right to participate in legal protest action for socio-economic interests. The trade union asks that the Nedlac decision be revised.

According to Anton van der Bijl, head of Solidarity’s Labour Law Services, the trade union will bring the application to enable all Solidarity members to voice their protest in solidarity with the Sasol strikers. “This issue is about including employees irrespective of their race. Employees should not be judged and divided solely based on their race in share schemes,” Van der Bijl said.

According to Van der Bijl, this issue has become bigger than only Sasol, affecting about 180 000 of Solidarity’s members in various major industries in South Africa.

Members of the media are invited to attend the court proceedings.
Venue: Gauteng South High Court, Johannesburg
Time: 10:00
Date: Thursday, 13 September 2018

Anton van der Bijl
Head: Solidarity’s Labour Law Services
083 291 6855