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| Industry, trade union strike deal |
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by
Aubrey Mchulu, 29 March 2004
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18:34:54
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Garment and Textile Manufacturers Association (GTMA) and Textile, Garment, Leather and Security Services Workers Union have agreed to negotiate in good faith to find solutions to any labour disputes between the two parties.
GTMA national consultant Julian Mhoni said Monday the agreement, signed last Thursday after a day-long meeting between the two sides, will stabilise the tension that is usually there whenever there is a labour dispute.
“The workers themselves have also committed themselves to stop stoning or breaking windows in factories when there is a strike,” he said, describing the development as one of the best things to have happened in the country’s labour history.
Financed by the American Centre for International Solidarity, the meeting also agreed to form an industrial council structure for the textile and garment industry to facilitate industrial negotiations and participate on issues of mutual interest such as training development, lobbying and to represent the industry on policy issues.
The meeting, co-facilitated by Mhoni and Norman Adendorff of the South African-based Owen Adendorff & Associates, also resolved that companies in the sector should recognise the rights of shop stewards elected in terms of the union constitution to represent employees.
The five-paged agreement made available to The Nation was signed by GTMA president Kentilal Desai and the union’s president Grace Nyirenda. |
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