An organisation of feminist and gender activists is calling for a #TotalShutdown and Intersectional Women’s March Against Gender-Based Violence on 1 August 2018. The organisation is calling for South Africans to stay away from work and/or join protests around the country. They plan to submit a memorandum of demands to government to deal with the “consistent increase in the rate of femicide and gender-based violence” in South Africa.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has publicly supporting the call for a national shutdown, including marches from the City of Tshwane to the Union Buildings. There are also marches scheduled in Cape Town (to Parliament), Bloemfontein (to the Supreme Court of Appeals) and in KwaZulu-Natal (in Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg and Durban).
While the Labour Relations Act (LRA) permits registered trade unions to undertake protected protest action to promote the social and economic interests of workers, a proviso is made that they observe the procedural requirements contained in Section 77 of the LRA. Please do note that the above-mentioned action has not been submitted to NEDLAC and, as such, any action taken on 1 August 2018 will be considered unprotected.
As an employer, we recommend you take the following into consideration:
- Discuss or notify your employees of the practicalities and potential impact of unprotected action.
- An approach of no work, no pay should be implemented. In terms of disciplinary action, the option remains at the discretion of Management but should of course be appropriate and consistent in its application.
- Any overtime worked during the course of the week to make up for the loss of ordinary working hours lost on 1 August will be paid at ordinary rates.
Should you have any questions or require support or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact any one Global Business Solutions’ offices on:
- East London 043 721 1030
- Johannesburg 011 483 3722
- Port Elizabeth 041 364 0472
- Cape Town 021 418 1617
- Durban 041 364 0472