Bargaining council can hear Home Affairs dispute, Constitutional Court rules
The Constitutional Court dismissed an appeal by the Department of Home Affairs on Thursday and ruled a mutual-interest dispute between the department and its employees over Saturday work shifts could be referred to bargaining council conciliation. At the heart of the issue between workers and the department was whether the matter could be heard by the bargaining council despite it being argued to be a dispute of interests as opposed to a dispute of rights. In February 2015 the department proposed changes to the working hours schedule of its employees where they would work one hour less on weekdays, but would have to work in rotation from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays. Employees, represented by the Public Servants Association and the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union, opposed the new model in 2015, demanding that it be subject the General Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council. When the dispute was set down for Bargaining Council conciliation the department successfull...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.