Delegates of Solidarity will cast their votes either in favour of, or against calling a national day of protest against crime this coming Thursday during the trade union’s national congress. If it is approved, it is expected that up to 150 000 people will participate in the protest action. The other organisations in the Solidarity Movement, namely AfriForum and Solidarity Helping Hand, are involved in similar processes of obtaining mandates from their members.
Solidarity will also serve notice in terms of 77 of the Labour Relations Act on NEDLAC of its intention to hold a protest action. This will be the first time that Solidarity calls a protest action in terms of this section. Section 77 of the Act states that a protest action can be called in respect of any socio-economic matter. The members of a trade union who obtain permission in terms of section 77 to participate in a stay-away action can do so without fear of disciplinary action. The normal rule of no work, no pay applies, however.
“We want to introduce South Africa to an alternative method of protest. Tense situations call for constructive protest. We cannot expect people to sit still, but we are not interested in protest actions that involve rubbish bins being overturned and damage being caused. We are at present conducting mandate processes across South Africa. If Solidarity calls a day of protest, it will reflect the will of its members and the community,” said Dirk Hermann, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity.