Members of the Association derive invaluable assistance through the comprehensive range of specialised services and products which SEIFSA offers , which include advice / assistance / consultancy covering labour legislation , dispute resolution , employment conditions , health and safety , broad-based black economic empowerment , contract price adjustment and skills development . SEIFSA also offers a wide range of publications , training courses , seminars and conferences .
Q
: What significant benefits have you derived from being a SEIFSAfederated Association ?
A
: Although the Association is an independent , registered employers ’ organisation , being federated to SEIFSA enables members to have access to all the expert assistance and / advice in the fields of legal / industrial relations and economic support systems that SEIFSA offers , particularly smaller companies which do not have these resources in house . SEIFSA also provides the Association with excellent administration , secretarial and accounting services .
SEIFSA positions itself as a professional collective bargaining entity in the areas of socio-economic and human capital policy and performs the role of a professional and effective advocacy and lobbying body for all its constituents , including the LEIA .
SEIFSA acts as a principal advocate for the Metals and Engineering Industry in South Africa to Government , communicating major policies and industry positions endorsed by its members . A further vital function of the Federation is to represent member Associations in the sector in industry collective bargaining with organized labour .
Q : Are there certain things that you would not have achieved without SEIFSA ? If so , please tell us what they are ?
A
: For the first time in a decade ,
SEIFSA ( representing all the federated Associations ) was able to reach a Settlement Agreement with all the trade unions on 23 August 2017 without any industrial action , ensuring peace and stability in the industry until 2020 .
A comprehensive Main Agreement containing all aspects of employment conditions , importantly Section 37 , which protects companies against plant- level bargaining , including the prohibition of unions embarking on industrial action on issues which have been concluded in the Main Agreement .
As the recognised voice of the industry , SEIFSA has the ability to influence and provide input to the regulatory business environment that we operate in .
As SEIFSA is the recognised voice of the industry , the Association ’ s affiliation to SEIFSA provides its members with direct access to the industry ’ s trade unions and related stakeholders , BUSA and NEDLAC . on all issues that have an impact on the world of work .
Q
: Has SEIFSA played a role in confronting challenges that have faced the Association ? The Association is only as strong as its membership base , and by SEIFSA continuing to provide a valuable service to the Association and its membership , this ensures that the LEIA remains competitive and relevant to its members and industry . For example , through SEIFSA ’ s representation on the various structures that are essentially accountable for skills development in the manufacturing and engineering environment , the skills challenges in the sector are continuously being addressed to the satisfaction of our membership .
Q
: If we could change one thing about SEIFSA or its services , what would that be ? Issues around violence and intimidation of employees by striking workers remain matters of great concern to our membership . Whilst we are encouraged by the recent amendments to the Labour Relations Act aimed at addressing this unfortunate consequence associated with industrial action , we believe that early engagements between the parties ahead of wage negotiations , with the participation and involvement of all stakeholders , is critically important to ensure that we never have a repeat of the industrial action visited upon this industry in 2014 .
On-going discussions around the review of the current collective bargaining model of one-size-fits-all remains crucially important to accommodate a vast and diversified industry . On both matters , the LEIA and its representatives stand ready to serve and support SEIFSA in these important engagements as we forge ahead into a new and hopefully prosperous and productive future .
SEIFSA AT 75 - SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE MAGAZINE 83