The legal regulation of trade union recognition in South Africa in historical and comparative context

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dc.contributor.advisorGarbers, Christophen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCalitz, Karin Beatrixen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGermishuys-Burchell, Wilhelminaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Mercantile Law.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-04T14:13:48Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-18T07:05:31Z
dc.date.available2023-03-04T14:13:48Z
dc.date.available2023-05-18T07:05:31Z
dc.date.issued2023-03
dc.descriptionThesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY : This study investigates the impact and importance of the legal regulation of trade union recognition and associated challenges in South Africa. It evaluates the current regulation of trade union recognition, including legislation and judicial attitudes apparent from the interpretation, application, and enforcement of such legislation, to ascertain its continued appropriateness in the current South African industrial relations environment. The study considers the policy choices of both voluntarism and majoritarianism underlying the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (“LRA”) and the “workplace” constituency to which it applies as factors that might be contributing to challenges experienced in the current regulation of collective bargaining in South Africa. It evaluates the current model of trade union recognition and representativeness as it applies to the acquisition by trade unions of organisational rights, collective bargaining rights and trade union recognition for purposes of retrenchment consultation. It recognises that the specific model chosen to regulate the representative status of trade unions has a significant effect on the ability of trade unions to organise and conclude collective agreements and, as such, on the distributive effects of such agreements in the labour market and broader society. The study commences with an historical overview of the regulation of trade union recognition under the 1956 LRA and thereafter considers the 1995 LRA as a product of criticism against the 1956 LRA. Specific issues considered, largely based on the analysis of the relevant decisions by the Constitutional Court, include the following: the impact of Constitutional Court jurisprudence relating to trade union recognition on the process of collective bargaining and on the legal regulation of the right to strike; the role of representativeness and its link with the workplace as the constituency for recognition and acquisition of organisational rights; the often winner-takes-all effect of the current model on collective bargaining as a major cause of labour unrest; the reactive role the legislature has played over the past, almost three decades to address challenges; the extent to which intervention should take place to safeguard the institution of collective bargaining from being undermined as well as the regulation of collective agreements as the product of collective bargaining and as the primary source of terms and conditions of employment. The comparative review of Canadian law focuses on a number of issues selected specifically for their potential to provide insights into how the weaknesses in South African regulation may be remedied. This includes insights into the accommodation of special or significant minority interests and how to address recognition in the context of multi-location employers. The thesis concludes with remarks on the insights gained from the Canadian model and the 1956 LRA. Where appropriate, suggestions are made on the way forward for South Africa as to the appropriate regulation of trade union recognition and representativeness.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Hierdie studie ondersoek die impak en belang van die regulering van vakbonderkenning en die uitdagings wat daarmee gepaardgaan in Suid-Afrika. Dit evalueer hoe vakbonderkenning tans gereguleer word deur beide wetgewing asook die interpretasie, toepassing en afdwinging van sodanige wetgewing deur die howe, ten einde vas te stel of die voortsetting daarvan in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse nywerheidsverhoudinge-omgewing toepaslik is. Die studie oorweeg die beleidskeuses van beide voluntarisme en meerderheidsverteenwoordiging onderliggend aan die Wet op Arbeidsverhoudinge 66 van 1995 (“WAV”) en die “werkplek” waarop dit van toepassing is, as faktore wat kan bydra tot uitdagings wat die huidige regulering van vakbonderkenning en kollektiewe bedinging in Suid-Afrika kan ondervind. Dit evalueer die huidige model van vakbonderkenning en verteenwoordiging soos dit van toepassing is op vakbonde vir die verkryging van organisatoriese regte, kollektiewe bedingingsregte en die reg tot konsultasie oor ontslag weens bedryfsvereistes. Dit erken dat die spesifieke model wat gekies word om die verteenwoordigende status van vakbonde te reguleer ‘n beduidende uitwerking het, nie net op die vermoë van vakbonde om te organiseer en om kollektiewe ooreenkomste te sluit nie, maar ook op die arbeidsmark en die breër samelewing. Die studie begin met ‘n historiese oorsig van die regulering van vakbonderkenning in terme van die 1956 WAV en oorweeg daarna die 1995 WAV as ‘n produk van kritiek teenoor die 1956 WAV. Spesifieke kwessies wat oorweeg word, en grootliks gebaseer is op die ontleding van die tersaaklike beslissings van die Konstitusionele Hof, sluit die volgende in: die impak van Konstitusionele Hof regspraak met betrekking tot vakbonderkenning op die proses van kollektiewe bedinging en op die regulering van die reg om te staak; die rol van verteenwoordiging en die koppeling hiervan met die “werkplek” as die basis vir die erkenning en verkryging van organisatoriese regte; die dikwels uitsluitende effek van die huidige model van kollektiewe bedinging as 'n groot oorsaak van arbeidsonrus; die reaktiewe rol wat die wetgewer oor die afgelope, amper drie dekades gespeel het om uitdagings aan te spreek; die mate waartoe ingryping moet plaasvind om die instelling van kollektiewe bedinging te beskerm teen ondermyning asook die regulering van kollektiewe ooreenkomste as die produk van kollektiewe bedinging en as die primêre bron van diensbepalings en -voorwaardes. Die vergelykende oorsig van Kanadese reg fokus op 'n aantal kwessies wat spesifiek gekies is vir hul potensiaal om moontlike oplossings vir die Suid-Afrikaanse tekortkominge in wetgewing, te verskaf. Dit sluit insigte rakende die akkommodasie van spesiale of beduidende minderheidsbelange onder werknemers asook vakbonderkenning in die konteks van werkgewers met veelvuldige (geografies verspreide) bedrywighede, in. Die proefskrif sluit af met opmerkings oor die insigte verkry uit die Kanadese model en die 1956 WAV. Waar toepaslik, word voorstelle gemaak vir die pad vorentoe vir Suid-Afrika rakende die toepaslike regulering van vakbonderkenning en verteenwoordiging.af_ZA
dc.description.versionDoctoralen_ZA
dc.format.extentx, 379 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127125
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshLabor unions -- Recognition -- Law and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCollective labor agreements -- South Africa en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshIndustrial laws and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshLabor disputes -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshLabor laws and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshEmployees -- Dismissal of -- Law and legislation -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCollective bargaining -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSouth Africa. Labour Relations Act, no. 66, 1995en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshEmployee rightsen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.subject.otherRetrenchment consultationen_ZA
dc.titleThe legal regulation of trade union recognition in South Africa in historical and comparative contexten_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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