Two technical task teams are working on these issues. The parties last met about two weeks ago and talks were moving rapidly. On Tuesday Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel told MPs that strike ballots and picketing were under discussion. This was within the context of codes of conduct during and prior to industrial action. The dialogue is looking at both workers’ grievances over low pay and the damaging effect of prolonged conflict on the economy. Talks have now boiled down to a national minimum wage and a more constructive industrial relations environment. “We are looking at picketing rules and strike ballots so that we create a more organised, systematic thing in which the will of the workers is clearly there,” he said. The parties are also looking at the creation of workplace forums to foster partnerships between business and labour.
Read Linda Ensor’s full report Ramaphosa initiates talks on strike ballots and pickets, first published by Business Day on BDlive today.