South Africa: NUPSAW and DIS-CHEM Pharmacies reach agreement to end workers’ strike

After a week of strike action, the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW), a PSI affiliate, and Dis-Chem Pharmacies have reached a settlement agreement regarding the granting of organisational rights to the Union.

A dispute between the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW) and DIS-CHEM Pharmacies was referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in December 2017 for conciliation to try and resolve a dispute regarding the granting of organisational rights to the Union.

NUPSAW represents its members who are employees of DIS-CHEM.

DIS-CHEM refused to grant NUPSAW Organisational Rights in terms of section 21 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).

The matter remained unresolved and a certificate of non-resolution concerning Organisational Rights was issued by the Conciliating Commissioner, giving NUPSAW members the right to strike after giving seven days’ notice in terms of section 21 of the Labour Relations Act.

Strike action took place at the DIS-CHEM Warehouse in Midrand on 17 January 2018 after which another meeting at the CCMA for conciliation took place on 24 January 2018 where a settlement agreement was reached between NUPSAW and DIS-CHEM Pharmacies.

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