The labour strike season is set to open in South Africa. The
period May to September is known as strike season as this is the time period
when most and predominantly mining wage negotiations, takes place. It is
rumoured and probably true that the mining industry is gearing themselves for
unknown levels of labour unrest as double digit wage increase expectations would
be tabled. Ironically the hunting season is also open in May.
How will the labour unrest be handled, would organised labour
honour labour legislation, will there be a repeat of Marikana, will there be
limitations on the use of force against striking workers and to what extent will
unions have control over their members? Following the criticism at Marikana what
can be expected from the SAP?
Would business expect private security to fulfil the role of
the SAP in strike handling when it comes to the use of force or would it be more
negotiated unrest and the handling thereof – we hope for a peaceful wage
negotiation period in SA in 2013 hoping that lessons at Marikana in 2012 have
been learnt in terms of the do’s and don’ts of strikes and the handling thereof.
We cannot afford a repeat of the Marikana disaster!
The outcome of the Marikana Commission would be interesting and
it would be interesting to see the limitations that would be put on law
enforcement agencies and private security in terms of the handling of crowds in
the future?
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