Future of MEIBC uncertain, says Solidarity

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Published May 6, 2016

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Johannesburg - The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) faces an uncertain future if Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant does not step in to resolve the crisis plaguing the council.

This is according to trade union Solidarity, which added that the council also faced financial difficulties that have led to the organisation’s dispute resolution function being redundant.

The union penned a letter to the minister pleading that she mediate the disputes before a crucial management committee (Manco) MEIBC meeting on May 25.

It is expected that the committee will decide on the extension and possible increase of administration and dispute resolution levy agreements.

The current agreements will lapse at the end of May.

And as a result, the union is concerned that with the current conflict between parties at the council, no consensus will reached.

“Urgent high level deliberation on the bargaining council’s finances is essential and urgent steps need to be taken to improve the administration and management of the bargaining council, this is crucial to ensure the future of the council,” said Marius Croucamp, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary for the metal and engineering industry.

The council regulates a number of labour issues including wage agreements, which are negotiated by various parties.

Croucamp warned that if there was no urgent intervention to resolve the challenges, the council will dissolve within three months.

“Should the bargaining council dissolve, it could lead to widespread strikes and labour unrest in the industry,” warned Croucamp.

Labour Bureau

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