Workplace forums in terms of the labour relations act 66 of 1995
- Authors: Pather, Sivalingam
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10229 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/845 , Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- South Africa
- Description: The promulgation into law of the concept of workplace forums has been beset with immense criticism and opposition from organized labour and some quarters of organized business. Last ditch efforts by the Ministerial Task Team had won the day for the inclusion of this controversial provision in the new Labour Relations Act.1 Commentators on the Act tend to agree that the fallout with organized labour at the negotiations has probably set the scene as to whether the provisions would be widely used or not. History has shown that the establishment of such forums in workplaces has been low. In some situations where workplace forums had been established, their continuous sustainability was put into doubt. This has led to the de-establishment of some of these forums in some workplaces. Various reasons were provided, but the prime factors for its failure could be traced back to the negotiations at NEDLAC. The unions opposed the original proposal by government that minority unions and even non-union employees can trigger the establishment of a workplace forum and insisted that this be restricted to majority unions. The voluntary nature regarding the establishment of a workplace forum and the trigger that only a majority union can invoke the provisions has still seen unions reluctant to utilize the provisions since it did not serve their purpose. The aims of the provisions, namely to increase workplace democracy, was therefore thwarted in favour of more informal procedures. Although the idea is a noble one, it is argued that the introduction of the provisions was ill-timed and inappropriate. The lesson that the legislature can take is that for any provision to be a success, buy-in from all stakeholders is paramount. Research has shown that there was a steady decline in the establishment of workplace forums. Since December 2004 there was not a single application received by the Commission for Conciliation, mediation and Arbitration. There is also doubt as to whether any of the Forums that were previously established are still functional. What is certain is that statutory workplace forums is not at the forefront as a vehicle for change that was envisaged in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanied the new Labour Relations Act. What is also certain is that employers and employees are utilizing other forums to ensure workplace participation. These forums, however, only provide a voice to unionized workers. The vast majority of non-union workers remain voiceless. The proposed amendments in 2002 that intimated that the trigger be any union and not only majority unions failed to be passed into law. Perhaps it is that type of catalyst that is required to give life to the provisions. The future of workplace forums in South Africa is bleak and will continue to be if there is no intervention by the parties at NEDLAC to revive it. A complete revamp of the legislation would be required for such a revival. Some commentators have made meaningful suggestions on changes that can be made to the legislation to make workplace forums more attractive. Some have suggested it be scrapped altogether and future workplace participatory structures should be left to the parties to embrace voluntarily. Workplace forums are a novel innovation with great potential to encourage workplace democracy. There is nothing wrong with the concept. The application of such forums in the South African context is what is concerning. Perhaps prior experience and experimentation with similar type forums have tarnished workplace participation. The strategies by the previous regime and some employers have caused such participation to equate to co-option. Perhaps not enough spade work was done to ensure that the climate and attitude of the parties was conducive for its introduction. What is paramount no matter the form it takes is that workplace participation is crucial for economic growth and the introduction of new work methods to improve productivity. Without the establishment of such forums, whether voluntary or statutory, the ‘second channel principle’ that promotes non-adversarial workplace joint decision-making would be lost and conflict based participation could spiral leading to economic disaster.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Pather, Sivalingam
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10229 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/845 , Industrial relations -- South Africa , Labor laws and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Works councils -- South Africa
- Description: The promulgation into law of the concept of workplace forums has been beset with immense criticism and opposition from organized labour and some quarters of organized business. Last ditch efforts by the Ministerial Task Team had won the day for the inclusion of this controversial provision in the new Labour Relations Act.1 Commentators on the Act tend to agree that the fallout with organized labour at the negotiations has probably set the scene as to whether the provisions would be widely used or not. History has shown that the establishment of such forums in workplaces has been low. In some situations where workplace forums had been established, their continuous sustainability was put into doubt. This has led to the de-establishment of some of these forums in some workplaces. Various reasons were provided, but the prime factors for its failure could be traced back to the negotiations at NEDLAC. The unions opposed the original proposal by government that minority unions and even non-union employees can trigger the establishment of a workplace forum and insisted that this be restricted to majority unions. The voluntary nature regarding the establishment of a workplace forum and the trigger that only a majority union can invoke the provisions has still seen unions reluctant to utilize the provisions since it did not serve their purpose. The aims of the provisions, namely to increase workplace democracy, was therefore thwarted in favour of more informal procedures. Although the idea is a noble one, it is argued that the introduction of the provisions was ill-timed and inappropriate. The lesson that the legislature can take is that for any provision to be a success, buy-in from all stakeholders is paramount. Research has shown that there was a steady decline in the establishment of workplace forums. Since December 2004 there was not a single application received by the Commission for Conciliation, mediation and Arbitration. There is also doubt as to whether any of the Forums that were previously established are still functional. What is certain is that statutory workplace forums is not at the forefront as a vehicle for change that was envisaged in the Explanatory Memorandum that accompanied the new Labour Relations Act. What is also certain is that employers and employees are utilizing other forums to ensure workplace participation. These forums, however, only provide a voice to unionized workers. The vast majority of non-union workers remain voiceless. The proposed amendments in 2002 that intimated that the trigger be any union and not only majority unions failed to be passed into law. Perhaps it is that type of catalyst that is required to give life to the provisions. The future of workplace forums in South Africa is bleak and will continue to be if there is no intervention by the parties at NEDLAC to revive it. A complete revamp of the legislation would be required for such a revival. Some commentators have made meaningful suggestions on changes that can be made to the legislation to make workplace forums more attractive. Some have suggested it be scrapped altogether and future workplace participatory structures should be left to the parties to embrace voluntarily. Workplace forums are a novel innovation with great potential to encourage workplace democracy. There is nothing wrong with the concept. The application of such forums in the South African context is what is concerning. Perhaps prior experience and experimentation with similar type forums have tarnished workplace participation. The strategies by the previous regime and some employers have caused such participation to equate to co-option. Perhaps not enough spade work was done to ensure that the climate and attitude of the parties was conducive for its introduction. What is paramount no matter the form it takes is that workplace participation is crucial for economic growth and the introduction of new work methods to improve productivity. Without the establishment of such forums, whether voluntary or statutory, the ‘second channel principle’ that promotes non-adversarial workplace joint decision-making would be lost and conflict based participation could spiral leading to economic disaster.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Writing and performing change: the use of writing journals to promote reflexivity in a Drama Studies curriculum
- Authors: Sutherland, Alexandra
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/468549 , vital:77089 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10137548.2007.9687857
- Description: What is the role of Drama Studies within the university? What is ‘the university’ and what purpose does it serve? Curzon-Hobson (2002: 181) maintains that ‘if one is to claim anything about the essential nature of the roles or values underpinning higher education, it can only be that it has become a site of increasing flux, ambiguity and inconsistency’. The very concept of ‘university’ and ‘academic knowledge’ has radically shifted with the development of postmodern thinking. ‘The notion of authoritative knowledge has been permanently undermined, for a postmoderist perspective suggests that all knowledge claims are local, partial and contextually specific’ (Luckett 2001: 54). Globally, universities are increasingly required to justify their existence, and we are witnessing a move towards ‘performativity’ (Lemmer 1998), as ‘disciplines are called upon to demonstrate their use-value in the global market’ (Barnett 2000b: 257). The South African context is no different. If, as many scholars have argued, the function of higher education has shifted so that the valued product of a university degree is not so much the quality of learning but the qualification gained (Race 1999), what is the place of the transient abstract texts of the discipline of Drama?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Sutherland, Alexandra
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/468549 , vital:77089 , https://doi.org/10.1080/10137548.2007.9687857
- Description: What is the role of Drama Studies within the university? What is ‘the university’ and what purpose does it serve? Curzon-Hobson (2002: 181) maintains that ‘if one is to claim anything about the essential nature of the roles or values underpinning higher education, it can only be that it has become a site of increasing flux, ambiguity and inconsistency’. The very concept of ‘university’ and ‘academic knowledge’ has radically shifted with the development of postmodern thinking. ‘The notion of authoritative knowledge has been permanently undermined, for a postmoderist perspective suggests that all knowledge claims are local, partial and contextually specific’ (Luckett 2001: 54). Globally, universities are increasingly required to justify their existence, and we are witnessing a move towards ‘performativity’ (Lemmer 1998), as ‘disciplines are called upon to demonstrate their use-value in the global market’ (Barnett 2000b: 257). The South African context is no different. If, as many scholars have argued, the function of higher education has shifted so that the valued product of a university degree is not so much the quality of learning but the qualification gained (Race 1999), what is the place of the transient abstract texts of the discipline of Drama?
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Written medicines information for South African HIV/AIDS patients: does it enhance understanding of co-trimoxazole therapy?
- Mansoor, Leila E, Dowse, Roslind
- Authors: Mansoor, Leila E , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156860 , vital:40059 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/her/cyl039
- Description: Written information to promote patient education is being increasingly recognized as an integral part of quality health care. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of distributing a patient information leaflet (PIL) on knowledge acquisition and recall. Two different PILs were designed for co-trimoxazole tablets: a simple, shorter PIL that incorporated pictograms and text and a text-only PIL that was longer and more complex. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive participants on chronic co-trimoxazole therapy were enrolled from five local primary health care clinics in Grahamstown, South Africa, and were randomly allocated to a Control Group (no PIL), Group A (text-only PIL) or Group B (simple PIL with pictograms).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mansoor, Leila E , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156860 , vital:40059 , https://0-doi.org.wam.seals.ac.za/10.1093/her/cyl039
- Description: Written information to promote patient education is being increasingly recognized as an integral part of quality health care. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of distributing a patient information leaflet (PIL) on knowledge acquisition and recall. Two different PILs were designed for co-trimoxazole tablets: a simple, shorter PIL that incorporated pictograms and text and a text-only PIL that was longer and more complex. Human immunodeficiency virus-positive participants on chronic co-trimoxazole therapy were enrolled from five local primary health care clinics in Grahamstown, South Africa, and were randomly allocated to a Control Group (no PIL), Group A (text-only PIL) or Group B (simple PIL with pictograms).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Xylem as well as phloem sustains severe damage due to feeding by the Russian wheat aphid
- Saheed, S A, Liu, Lin, Jonsson, Lisbeth M V, Botha, Christiaan E J
- Authors: Saheed, S A , Liu, Lin , Jonsson, Lisbeth M V , Botha, Christiaan E J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6541 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005983
- Description: Investigation of comparative effects of feeding damage by the Russian wheat aphid (RWA, biotype SA1, Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko) on leaf blades of susceptible and resistant wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. var Betta and Betta-Dn1 respectively) were carried out to establish the level of ultrastructural damage caused by this aphid and the possible limitation of damage induced which could be ascribed to the resistance gene Dn1 over the susceptible cultivar. Ultrastructurally, Betta-Dn1 sustained less damage to the vascular tissue as well as to the mesophyll during the experimental period. Both inter- and intracellular probes resulted in considerable saliva deposition as the aphids probed for suitable feeding sites. Salivary tracks were observed between and within mesophyll, bundle sheath cells as well as the vascular tissue, including the xylem. Disruption of organelles and cytoplasm resulted from cell probing and sheath deposition. Cell and organelle damage was more evident in the non-resistant Betta cultivar. The aphids probed for and fed from thin-walled sieve tubes preferentially. Few thick-walled sieve tubes showed evidence of either aphid probing or feeding-related damage. Saliva was deposited when the aphids probed inter- and intracellularly for feeding sites. The aphids appeared preferentially to probe for and feed from thin-walled sieve tubes, as few thick-walled sieve tubes showed evidence of damage. Vessels, apparently probed for water, contained watery saliva that encased the secondary walls and sealed pit membranes between probed vessels and xylem parenchyma. The xylem probed by the RWA was rendered non-functional, probably contributing to symptoms of leaf roll, chlorosis and necrosis, which were observed within two weeks of infestation in the susceptible Betta cultivar. This damage was limited in the resistant Betta-Dn1 cultivar during the same time frame.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Saheed, S A , Liu, Lin , Jonsson, Lisbeth M V , Botha, Christiaan E J
- Date: 2007
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6541 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005983
- Description: Investigation of comparative effects of feeding damage by the Russian wheat aphid (RWA, biotype SA1, Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko) on leaf blades of susceptible and resistant wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. var Betta and Betta-Dn1 respectively) were carried out to establish the level of ultrastructural damage caused by this aphid and the possible limitation of damage induced which could be ascribed to the resistance gene Dn1 over the susceptible cultivar. Ultrastructurally, Betta-Dn1 sustained less damage to the vascular tissue as well as to the mesophyll during the experimental period. Both inter- and intracellular probes resulted in considerable saliva deposition as the aphids probed for suitable feeding sites. Salivary tracks were observed between and within mesophyll, bundle sheath cells as well as the vascular tissue, including the xylem. Disruption of organelles and cytoplasm resulted from cell probing and sheath deposition. Cell and organelle damage was more evident in the non-resistant Betta cultivar. The aphids probed for and fed from thin-walled sieve tubes preferentially. Few thick-walled sieve tubes showed evidence of either aphid probing or feeding-related damage. Saliva was deposited when the aphids probed inter- and intracellularly for feeding sites. The aphids appeared preferentially to probe for and feed from thin-walled sieve tubes, as few thick-walled sieve tubes showed evidence of damage. Vessels, apparently probed for water, contained watery saliva that encased the secondary walls and sealed pit membranes between probed vessels and xylem parenchyma. The xylem probed by the RWA was rendered non-functional, probably contributing to symptoms of leaf roll, chlorosis and necrosis, which were observed within two weeks of infestation in the susceptible Betta cultivar. This damage was limited in the resistant Betta-Dn1 cultivar during the same time frame.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Zebra fingerprints: towards a computer-aided identification system for individual zebra
- Foster, Gregory G, Krijer, Hans, Bangay, Shaun D
- Authors: Foster, Gregory G , Krijer, Hans , Bangay, Shaun D
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433482 , vital:72973 , https://doi.org/10.1145/1108590.1108616
- Description: The article presents a study which investigates the development of a computer-aided system for individual zebra identification based on the lateral side stripe pattern. The model proposed for individual animal identification is based on a combination of image processing and fingerprint identification technology. About 20 minutes of zebra footage was filmed at the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa. The study indicates that there is sufficient variation in lateral stripe patterns to differentiate individual animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Foster, Gregory G , Krijer, Hans , Bangay, Shaun D
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/433482 , vital:72973 , https://doi.org/10.1145/1108590.1108616
- Description: The article presents a study which investigates the development of a computer-aided system for individual zebra identification based on the lateral side stripe pattern. The model proposed for individual animal identification is based on a combination of image processing and fingerprint identification technology. About 20 minutes of zebra footage was filmed at the Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa. The study indicates that there is sufficient variation in lateral stripe patterns to differentiate individual animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Cognitive pharmaceutical services and the community pharmacist: are South African patients receiving them and are they willing to pay?
- Hill, Peter W, Dowse, Roslind
- Authors: Hill, Peter W , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2006
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156829 , vital:40054 , DOI 10.1211/ijpp.15.2.0007
- Description: The objectives of this study were to ascertain the opinions of randomly selected South African medical aid members regarding the provision by community pharmacists of patient counselling and information; member satisfaction with pharmacist services; their rating of pharmacist accessibility; and if pharmacists should be reimbursed for providing cognitive pharmaceutical services. Setting A South African private healthcare insurance company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Hill, Peter W , Dowse, Roslind
- Date: 2006
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/156829 , vital:40054 , DOI 10.1211/ijpp.15.2.0007
- Description: The objectives of this study were to ascertain the opinions of randomly selected South African medical aid members regarding the provision by community pharmacists of patient counselling and information; member satisfaction with pharmacist services; their rating of pharmacist accessibility; and if pharmacists should be reimbursed for providing cognitive pharmaceutical services. Setting A South African private healthcare insurance company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Shakespeare's Victorian Stage: performing history in the theatre of Charles Kean, Richard W. Schoch: book review
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7050 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007393 , http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC48030
- Description: preprint , This book is a primarily a study of Charles Kean’s productions of Shakespeare’s English chronicle plays at the Princess’s Theatre between 1852 and 1859, a period crucial to the development of ideas of English nationalism. Schoch focuses on these particular stagings as more than drama; as performances of nineteenth century theories of history and historical representation. His project operates under the aegis of the so-called ‘linguistic turn’ in cultural theory, and is suspicious of neo-marxian fundamentalism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Wright, Laurence
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: vital:7050 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007393 , http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC48030
- Description: preprint , This book is a primarily a study of Charles Kean’s productions of Shakespeare’s English chronicle plays at the Princess’s Theatre between 1852 and 1859, a period crucial to the development of ideas of English nationalism. Schoch focuses on these particular stagings as more than drama; as performances of nineteenth century theories of history and historical representation. His project operates under the aegis of the so-called ‘linguistic turn’ in cultural theory, and is suspicious of neo-marxian fundamentalism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004