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THE WESTERN CAPE FARM WORKERS THE WESTERN CAPE FARM WORKERS STRIKE AND SALIENT ISSUES TO TAKE STRIKE AND SALIENT ISSUES TO TAKE
NOTE OFNOTE OF
PRESENTATION COMPILED AND PRESENTED BY: PRESENTATION COMPILED AND PRESENTED BY: MOKUTULE JOE KGOBOKOEMOKUTULE JOE KGOBOKOE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIESFISHERIESTEL: 012 319 7028TEL: 012 319 7028FAX: 012 319 6869FAX: 012 319 6869E-MAIL: E-MAIL: [email protected]
THE JULY 2010 HISTORIC THE JULY 2010 HISTORIC NATIONAL VULNERABLE NATIONAL VULNERABLE
WORKERS SUMMIT IN THE WORKERS SUMMIT IN THE WESTERN CAPE AND THE WESTERN CAPE AND THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTEDRESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
CONTEXT AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES
Damning Human Rights Watch Damning Human Rights Watch Report of 2011: Working Report of 2011: Working
conditions of Farm Workers in conditions of Farm Workers in WCWC
CONTEXT AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES
WESTERN CAPE WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL DEPT PROVINCIAL DEPT OF AGRICULTUREOF AGRICULTURE
What is the role of What is the role of the established the established Farm Workers Farm Workers
Unit?Unit?
CONTEXT AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES
CONTEXT AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES
ABOUT DE DOORNS
• Small table grape farming area some 150km east of Cape Town
• Incorporates an information settlement with great number of foreigners from Lesotho and Zimbabwe – Seasonal Workers in the area
• High level of unemployment
• Glaring problems of poverty, unemployment and inequality
• Lack of Municipal Service Delivery
THE DEDOORNS FARM WORKERS STRIKES AND DOCUMENTED REASONS
FACILITATIVE ROLE OF BLACK ASSOCIATION FOR WINE AND FACILITATIVE ROLE OF BLACK ASSOCIATION FOR WINE AND SPIRITS INDUSTRY (BAWSI)SPIRITS INDUSTRY (BAWSI)
Human Rights NGO Human Rights NGO Working on wine farms Working on wine farms
in the WCin the WC
DAFF NGO DATABASEDAFF NGO DATABASE
National Print Media Advert early in 2012
FACILITATIVE ROLE DURING STRIKES
Constructive Engagement
with Employer
05 NOV 2013
01st DAY
BAWSIFarm WorkersFarmers (Employer)
DEADLOCKED
07 NOV 2013
2nd DAY
BAWSICCMAFarm WorkersFarmer (Employer) NGOs
DEADLOCKED
09 NOV 2013
03rd DAY
Minister (observer)CCMABAWSIEmployerOfficial: DAFFLabour (observers)Others
DEADLOCKED
DEADLOCKED NEGOTIATIONS FACILITATD BY BAWSI AND CCMA
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES INTERVENES
??
R80 offer rejected
Deadlocked negotiations of
05th and 07th Nov 2013
Blockading of N1/Looting
Escalating Strikes and
turning Violent
Bad media Publicity
Leadership
Image of the country and
sector Internationally
Extra-ordinary situation
requiring extra-ordinary Action
DATE AND PLACE OF NEGOTIATIONS CONTENT ELEMENTS OF NEGOTIATIONS
OUTCOME
Friday 09 November 2012 Kleinplaas, Worcester -CCMA: Facilitator
Employer Standpoint: No mandate to negotiate wages for farm workers• Wage negotiations be done on a farm basis• The offer of R80 a day
Standpoint of Farm Workers• Offer of R80-00 a day not acceptable• Negotiations on individual farm basis not acceptable
Deadlock
Saturday 10th November 2012 Cape Sun Hotel, Cape Town
Meeting facilitated by Minister DAFF
• Extended high level meeting COSATU , FAWU, Farm Workers Representatives, Dept of Labour, Provincial Dept of Agriculture, Commissioner of Police, AgriSA (WC), CCMA, AFASA, Dept Minister Trade and Industry and BAWSI
Deadlock (Intransigence of the Employer)
(No Mandate to negotiate wages for farm workers)
DATE AND PLACE OF NEGOTIATIONS
CONTENT ELEMENTS OF NEGOTIATIONS OUTCOME
Monday 12th November 2012, DAFF Offices, Pretoria
Meeting facilitated by Minister: DAFF
• Another high level meeting
AgriSA (National) NAFUAFASATAUDept of Labour DAFFCCMA
• Possibility of wage offer so that farm workers could return to work
• Establishment of Inter-Ministerial Committee led by Labour
• Need for a new Sectoral Determination
Tuesday 13th November 2012 , De Doorns Stadium
Minister DAFF addresses approximately 7000 farm workers at the De Doorns stadium.• Commended farm workers for standing for their rights and taking their future in their own hands• Government was to initiate a new sectoral wage determination
• The address by Minister proved catalytic and indispensable
• Successfully brokered the impasse
DATE AND PLACE OF NEGOTIATIONS CONTENT ELEMENTS OF NEGOTIATIONS
OUTCOME
• Call to desist from acts of violence
• With this address the farm workers agreed to end the strikes
Wednesday 14th November 2012, Imbizo Hall at Parliament
Government Joint Press Conference
Minister DAFF
Acting Minister Labour
Minister Trade and Industry
FAWU• Announcement of a possible review of the existing Sectoral wage determination of R69-39.• Publishing of a notice to cancel the existing Sectoral determination• Announcement to establish the Inter-Departmental Task Team on ethical trade
• With this announcement the farm workers strikes were suspended for two weeks
DEPRIVED AND STARVING FARM WORKERS
Vicious circle
Reports of hunger, starvation,
intimidation, evictions by the
NGOs working in the WC
7 500 food parcels distributed at the cost of
R10.0 m
Food parcels distributed to households at all areas
affected by the strikes
De DoornsTouws RiverAvian ParkGrabouw
VilliersdorpFranschoekSimonsdiumWellingtonCitrusdal
BroodkraalRiebeck Kasteel
DAFF INTERVENTION DAFF INTERVENTION
Minister of Labour makes an announcement on 04 February 2013 on the revised Sectoral Determination of R105 Minimum Wage to be effective on
01 March 2013
09 JAN 2013
Good Christmas for Farm Workers
Families
RESUMPTION OF THE STRIKESRESUMPTION OF THE STRIKES
DIALOGE WITH THE FARMING SERCTOR FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND
SOCIAL COHESION
12 FEB 2013, VAL DE VIE, PAARL, WC12 FEB 2013, VAL DE VIE, PAARL, WCGOVERNMENT
• Dep President of the Republic
•Minister: DAFF• Minister: DRDLR
• Minsiter: DTI• Dep Minister: DIRCO•MEC: WC Provincial
Department of Agriculture
LABOUR
COSATU & MembersFAWU & Members
BAWUSA & MembersFARM WORKERS
SA & Members
FARM WORKERS
Little over 1000 farm workers from all
areas affected by Strikes
(14h00-17h00)
EMPLOYERAgriSA
AgriSA (WC)AFASA
TAUUnity Forum
NAFU(09h00-13h00)
KEY DECISIONS AND PROGRESS TO-DATE
KEY DECISION PROGRESS
1. DAFF to facilitate the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Task Team on farm workers and farmers dialogue.
Done. The first meeting of the Vulnerable Workers Delivery Forum is scheduled for Wednesday 20th March 2013 at Fisheries Building (Foretrust Buildings), Cape Town
2. DAFF to lead in investigating the impact of the new Sectoral Determination Minimum wage of R105 per
DAFF in consultation with NAMC, has come up with proposed options in dealing with this.• Establishment of a fund where a tax percentage of the Wine and spirits may used towards wages.• Fully fledged Study on the impact of the R105 (Industry to Industry).
KEY DECISIONS AND PROGRESS TO-DATE
KEY DECISION PROGRESS• Wage Subsidy for Seasonal Workers (CEO
Forum)• Diesel rebate – Increase the rebate• Electricity rebate – increase the rebate• Application for exemption (Dept of Labour has
to-date received 1500 applications for exemption)
3. Initiation of a NEDLAC process on the social compact and the facilitation of Government District Imbizos
Work still at a preliminary stage. Meeting of 20th March 2013 will give impetus to this
4. DTI to lead in the establishment of Ethical Trade
DTI is currently working on this. There is a national summit planned for this year on this subject
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Vulnerable Workers Delivery Forum Meeting on 20th March 2013, WC
Planned March by Farm Workers on 23 March 2013 in the WC
Planned visit of the Deputy President to De Doorns