Collective bargaining, which involves sitting around a table and coming to a mutually acceptable agreement, is a cornerstone of the democratic process. The protests that occurred recently in the Sundays River Valley were coercion, not collective bargaining. This is according to Jahni de Villiers, Agri SA’s head of labour and development.
In South Africa, collective bargaining is governed by the Labour Relations Act. Labour relations in the agriculture sector were challenged recently in the form of carefully organised protests targeting citrus producers in the Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape. The question is: was this really labour unrest?
The last time the agriculture sector faced a similar situation was during the 2012 protests in De Doorns in the Western Cape. Thousands of farm workers demanded a wage of R150/day, which ended up being settled at R105/day. The previous wage had been R69/day. This wage hike shock led to serious job losses in the agriculture sector in the Western Cape, with farmers employing fewer seasonal workers and mechanising more farming operations.
RIGHTS OF WORKERS
Collective agreements are generally forged between employers, who may be represented by employers’ organisations, and trade unions representing workers. No employee is expected to negotiate on his or her own behalf with their significantly more powerful employer; the parties are equal and all have equal opportunities to influence each other and participate. Nonetheless, this is not always the case. In South Africa, a significant number of bargaining councils do not function properly because of poor management, shoddy legal agreements and substandard participation.
Negotiations also take place at company level, particularly where there are no bargaining councils, such as in the agriculture sector. This changes the dynamic significantly. The aim of such negotiations should be to reach a mutually acceptable agreement between the parties, minimising conflict and risk.
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Denne historien er fra July 6, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
