Solidarity wins in bargaining unit dispute with RDM

22nd January 2015

By: Sashnee Moodley

Senior Deputy Editor Polity and Multimedia

  

Font size: - +

Trade union Solidarity’s three-year dispute with defence company Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) over the interpretation of a recognition agreement between the two entities has come to an end after the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) ruled in the union’s favour.

Solidarity, which represents about 300 members at RDM, declared a dispute with the company in 2011, saying that, in terms of the agreement signed in 2010, the union was permitted to represent members in job levels P4 to P7.

However, RDM’s management argued that levels P4 to P7 were top management levels and, therefore, restricted Solidarity’s bargaining power to job levels P8 to P10.

Levels P4 to P7 fell outside the bargaining unit and, as a result, Solidarity’s bargaining power was weakened.

Solidarity sector coordinator Jack Loggenberg said the CCMA had restored bargaining power at the company with this ruling.

“Finally, after a three-year battle, we can represent our members in negotiations for better salaries and conditions of employment again, as the arbitration award stipulates that job levels P4 to P7 are included in the bargaining unit. Solidarity was unable to negotiate collectively on its members’ behalf for three years. We relied particularly on our members’ loyalty and faith in us during this period,” he said.

He added that, while the trade union was looking forward to partnering with the new RDM management and building a positive relationship, Solidarity would work to ensure financial losses suffered by its members were recovered.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION