Sparks June

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Buyers’ guide | People on the move REGULARS:
JUNE 2016
• Contractor's Corner
• Tools of the trade
• Energy measurement
and supply
• Lighting
FEATURES
E L E C T R I C A L N E W S
SIGNIFICANT wage and employment negotiations, set to take place in Cape
Town in June, are expected to ensure a sustainable future for the electrical
industry for the next five years.
Mark Mfikoe, national director for the Electrical Contractors’ Association
of South Africa (ECA(SA)) says that the South African Equity Workers’
Association (SAEWA) and the ECA(SA) are going to the negotiating table
with “an historic five year agreement in mind to ensure labour peace and
stability within the electrical contracting industry”.
Mfikoe says the current agreement, which has regulated conditions of
service in the industry since 2014, ends on 31 January 2017. “The parties
in the electrical industry have had the foresight to start
negotiations early so that contractors and employers
can more easily plan and adjust prices when tendering
for projects that are due to start in 2017. Frequently,
projects straddle financial years and construction
contracts can take two or three years to complete.
Knowing that the price of labour is predictable and that
one can count on industrial peace for the duration of
the agreement will ensure that contractors will be in a more comfortable
commercial position, Mfikoe says, adding, “with this kind of planning, there
won’t be a Marikana situation in the electrical contracting industry”.
Industrial peace
“Long term employment conditions are not a luxury for South Africa
anymore,” says Mfikoe, “and the mining, motor and other industries
should equally appreciate the contribution that long term industrial peace
can do for their industries. If there had been a long-term agreement at
Medupi, the disruptions there could have been avoided.” He adds that the
Medupi project has escalated from an initial cost projection of R75-billion
to over R150-billion and the project, which was originally supposed to
end in 2011, will now only be completed in 2021. “One of the reasons for
the disruptions was labour unrest.”
Social security
Mfikoe says the matters to be negotiated include wages; allowances for
night work, travelling and out of town; and social security benefits. “Social
security benefits include the sick benefit fund; retirement funds, death
benefits, funeral cover and disability benefits. The aim is to ensure that all
employees in the electrical contracting industry enjoy these benefits. This
also assists small and medium enterprises to participate in a collective
effort to ensure social security for their employees where the funds are
controlled by elected members of their representatives. In this way the
industry looks after itself,” he explains. “Members and non-members of
the union and the employers are being consulted to ensure compliance
with legislation. Any employers in the industry are further encouraged to
submit any proposals they may have to Stephen Khola, the ECA(SA)’s
director of labour, for consolidation and consideration during the
bargaining process,” says Mfikoe.
Commitment
“We need the commitment of everyone going into these talks. We have
had our own difficulties going into wage negotiations and some bridges
have been burnt along the way,” admits Mfikoe.
“The electrical contracting industry experienced troublesome work
stoppages in 2006, which resulted in major disruptions and arrests.
However, I believe we have matured as negotiators and we are looking a
fair deal that appreciates the need for employees to be paid better while
respecting the imperatives of business to continue providing employment
security and making prosperity possible.”
Training
Mfikoe says the Council is “sensitive to the skills shortage in the industry”
and is looking for ways to contribute to the funding of training in the electrical
industry. “We recognise that the SETA system of training has impacted
negatively on this industry and we want to intervene to ensure expert
training and competent upskilling of the workforce for the ultimate good of
the industry. Finding resources to fund this training is going to be a big part
of these wage negotiations.” He adds: “We know that these negotiations are
not going to be easy but we remain committed to their success because
business and the country thrive when there is stability and predictability.
Enquiries: Stephen Khola, director of labour, ECA(SA)
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY WAGE
NEGOTIATIONS – A QUEST FOR FIVE
YEARS OF LABOUR PEACE
“Long term employment conditions are not a luxury for South
Africa anymore, and the mining, motor and other industries
should equally appreciate the contribution that long term
industrial peace can do for their industries.”