BusinessLive reports that labour minister Mildred Oliphant said in Wednesday that trade unions were negotiating for conditions that were less favourable for workers than what was contained in the Labour Relations Act (LRA).  

Speaking at Cosatu’s national congress, Oliphant called on the federation to get its house in order by training shop stewards on all labour laws.  More than 1.6-million workers rely on Cosatu affiliates for workplace protections and collective bargaining representation for wage agreements and other conditions of work.  "The classical case is one collective agreement where the unions have agreed to give the employers at least 30 days’ notice instead of the 48-hours’ notice prescribed in the LRA of their intention to go out on strike," Oliphant pointed out.  Cosatu has admitted in its congress discussion documents that its affiliates’ shop stewards lacked basic understanding of some of the country’s key labour legislations, including the LRA, as well as those of the companies where they organise.  The minister also told Cosatu affiliates that she would not "rescue" them when they were found to be noncompliant with provisions of the LRA regulating the administration of trade unions.  She pointed out that due to the Labour Court having declared the office of the labour registrar as independent, her office would not act when approached for intervention.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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