adminThe Herald, April 25, 1980
EMPLOYERS were told last night to find ways to improve on the defects in Zimbabwe’s industrial bargaining and conciliation system.
The president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Zimbabwe, Mr Brian Grubb, said one of the worst defects was lack of communication with workers, as shown in the recent strikes.
“There is nowhere near enough information transmitted to employees, let alone the population at large, about the operation of the economy and specifically the company in which they live and work,” he told the annual meeting of the Salisbury Commercial Employer Association.
Although the Government wanted changes on the conciliation system, it would be unfortunate if the Industrial Conciliation Act was swept away. These changes could be made in terms of the Act.
But if the whole system was changed, “as responsible employers and employer associations, we cannot simply take the view that this would be a pity. That would be negative thinking and what this country needs, more than anything else is positive thinking”.
Industrial bargaining had basically worked well.
“We are, however, in a new situation in which the Act is seen by many as being the originator of many evils.
“They have been given political credibility, if only because they have been repeated many times. We are in a position where the system of which we have boasted in the past may be shown to be inadequate.”
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Communication is the missing link that leads to challenges in most organisations. Where lines of communication exist, in most cases, they are top-down and not of mutual benefit for employer and employee relationships.
The 1956 Industrial Conciliation Act prohibited the registration of any new “mixed” union and imposed racially separate branches and all-white executive committees on existing “mixed” unions.
It was amended in 1979 to set up an industrial court, which was to interpret labour laws and to hear cases of irregular employment.
The Labour Relations Act amendment of 1981 made it possible for blacks to participate in the legal machinery set up for collective bargaining. It allowed blacks other than contract workers to form their trade unions.
Online Reporter