Report - Friedrich Ebert Stiftung - Namibia

Workshop Report on Police Labour Relations in Namibia: Time for a New Beginning?
3.3 Collective Bargaining
Ms K. Mosoane, Representative of the Safety and Security Special Bargaining
Council (SSSBC), an independent body informed the workshop that the South
African Constitution contains a Bill of Rights which enshrines the rights of all
citizens including freedom of association and articulates certain labour rights, like
the Right to:
a) fair labour practices;
b) form and join a trade union and to participate in the union activities;
c) strike; and
d) every employee has the right to participate in the activities of the
organization; and every trade union, employers’ organization and the
employer has the right to engage in collective bargaining. To give expression
to these fundamental rights within the Public Service, the Labour Relations
Act of 1995 (LRA) was enacted. As a result members of the Police service
were granted the right to freedom to associate in trade unions and to
participate in collective bargaining and protection against unfair labour
practices.
3.3.1 Establishment of SSSBC
Collective bargaining in SAPS dates back to 1994/5 with the establishment of the
National Negotiation Forum (NNF) which was governed by the SAPS labour
Relations Regulations. The SSSBC was established in 1999 as a result of the
amalgamation of the NNF which covered the functional uniformed members and
the Department Bargaining Council which covered the civilian component. The
SSSBC operates within the ambit of the Labour Relations Act, SAPS Act, the
Public Service Act, SSSBC Constitution, Collective Agreements reached in
Public Service and the Constitution of RSA.
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