Solidarity can strike over Sasol employee share plan
Mediators on Thursday cleared the Solidarity trade union to strike in a dispute with Sasol over its plan to launch a share ownership scheme exclusively for black staff.
Sasol plans to sell 25% of its local operations to mainly qualifying black employees in a R21bn deal that would be vendor-financed by the firm.
The conciliation hearing followed earlier Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) hearings by the two parties held on May 9 and 25.
This followed an initial referral of a discrimination dispute to the CCMA by Solidarity that it subsequently withdrew.
Under SA’s black economic empowerment rules, companies are required to meet quotas on black ownership, employment and procurement as part of a drive to reverse decades of exclusion under apartheid.
Solidarity called the scheme, dubbed Khanyisa employee share ownership plan (ESOP), “blatant discrimination against loyal Sasol employees”.
But Sasol defended the scheme on Thursday.
“The Sasol Khanyisa ESOP is not a company benefit or compensation scheme. It was specifically designed to address the ownership component of the broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) codes and therefore primarily focuses on the inclusion of black employees, as defined by the codes,” Sasol said.
“As a responsible South African corporate citizen, it is Sasol’s ethical duty to take decisive action to redress the injustices of SA’s past.
“Sasol Khanyisa, Sasol’s new B-BBEE ownership structure, is one of the key focus areas of the company’s broader transformation strategy,” the company said.
It said transformation was an important ethical, social and business imperative for Sasol.
Solidarity, which represents predominantly white workers, said it would seek a mandate from members to strike.
Under the country’s labour laws the union has to give Sasol at least 48 hours’ notice before going on strike.
Both parties will reconvene on July 4 to establish picketing rules that would apply in the event of a strike.