The unsuccessful Labour Appeal Court bid on Thursday by security industry employers to have the ongoing strike declared illegal was a grim reminder to both parties of how crucial negotiations were, South Africa’s Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said on Friday.
The employers and the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) are scheduled to resume talks under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on Friday.
Mdladlana said both parties had it within their powers “to grab the opportunity and end the violent strike that has resulted in lost lives over the past seven weeks”.
“Time has come for employers to swallow their pride and return to the negotiating table. We hope this court decision will make them realise that the only way of resolving this dispute is through negotiations,” Mdladlana said.
The prospect of the two parties finally sitting down and thrashing out a solution to the protracted strike was bringing relief to everyone, the Department of Labour said.
“I have been repeatedly calling for this to happen for a long time now. I wish the parties a fruitful outcome and a lasting solution. But I want the parties to know that I am watching the proceedings with keen interest,” the Minister added.
The scheduled talks take place just a day after the Labour Appeal Court dismissed the employers’ application for the reversal of an earlier Labour Court ruling declaring the strike legal and therefore protected by law. — I-Net Bridge