‘Union tactics against negotiators could damage system’

CONTINUOUS attacks on employer negotiators by labour unions during wage talks could disintegrate the country’s bargaining system and turn it hostile.

This is according to labour analyst Tony Healy, who described “tactics” used by unions in wage talks as adding to the dysfunctionality of some aspects of the collective bargaining system.

Healy’s sentiments come as the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) prepares to take part in conciliation following a dispute with employer body SA Local Government Association (Salga), on condition that the employers take over the negotiation process.

The union did not trust negotiators deployed to deal with the sensitive talks that can easily lead to a devastating strike.

“When we go into negotiations, you do so to conclude the talks. Not to go there and find that the negotiators don’t know how much the employer is willing to pay.

“We want to sit with people who have concrete mandates and can say this is the most we are willing to spend,” said Samwu spokesman Papikie Mohale.

Healy has described the union’s attitude as a problematic tactic that is used to put pressure on employers.

“People in the frontline are easy targets. And unions know these kinds of tactics have had some success in the past because they unnerve the employer. They get them to second-guess their decision to send negotiators,” explained Healy.

Before reaching a conclusion during their recently mooted wage talks, public sector unions issued several statements decrying the behaviour of state negotiators, saying they were “appalled and infuriated by the reckless and arrogant attitude of government”.

The unions, just like Samwu, have instead demanded to negotiate directly with ministers in the joint mandating committee.

The language used was highly problematic as it eroded trust between parties, warned the analyst.

But National Education Health and Allied Workers Union first deputy president Mike Shingange defended their call for principals to step in, saying it was anything but a tactic.

“It has been logical that when a stalemate is reached, the principals would step in at a leadership level.

“We never go into a negotiation wanting to side-step negotiators, but it becomes a problem when they do not communicate the employers’ mandate,” argued Shingange.