1 June 2007
Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour has thanked the officials of
the Department and their unions for respecting the law and placing
beneficiaries of essential services first. The Minister's comments followed a
national report submitted today on the levels of absenteeism across the country
which indicated that Correctional Centres nationally functioned normally. The
report shows that only 0,13% of 41 393 officials were reported absent today
without prior authorisation. The Department will institute investigations to
establish reasons for the absence of the 54 officials and will take
disciplinary steps where applicable.
Meanwhile, the Department noted with concern the reported locking up of
officials at the East London Correctional Centre today, 1 June 2007. The
Department views this in bad light and will take the necessary disciplinary
steps against the manager alleged to have behaved in such an illegal
manner.
The Department wishes to reiterate its clear position that it respects
workers' rights to engage in collective bargaining and to take any legal
industrial step as part of their bargaining. We have constantly communicated
this to managers and employees alike, emphasising the fact that the Labour
Relations Act of 1995 clearly prohibits any form of strike by workers in
essential services.
We have also repeatedly stated that any employee is free to make any
decision of which he or she is prepared to face consequences. In this instance,
workers have been made aware that participation in any form of strike either
during working hours or in uniform will result in disciplinary action being
taken against them. Locking officials is unacceptable behaviour whose
consequences will be disciplinary action.
We also welcome the decision of Police and Prison Civil Rights Union
(Popcru) and the Public Service Association (PSA) to warn their members working
in essential services against breaking the Labour Relations Act, as their
strike action will not be legally protected. We also welcome the decision of
the court to grant an interdict against those unions bent on using their
essential service members as cannon fodder.
Enquiries:
Manelisi Wolela
Cell: 083 626 0304
Issued by: Department of Correctional Services
1 June 2007
