DCS crowned as Worst Employer of the Year - Solidarity
‘Shoot yourself in the Foot', ‘Sticky Fingers' and ‘Come and Go Awards' also won
The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) won Solidarity's award for worst employer of the year with honours, the trade union today announced. Solidarity also honoured employees who loyally remained on duty during the unrest in the mining industry this year, while the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, earned herself the award as the year's worst executive.
These awards form part of the trade union's annual awards made in the categories employers' incentive award for meritorious achievement, employees of the year, and worst executive of the year. Three special awards for employers were also made.
According to Johan Kruger, Solidarity's spokesperson, these awards serve as indicator of how companies acted towards their employees in particular. Kruger pointed out that there was strong competition in all categories in 2012. ‘The decision to appoint the DCS as worst employer was, however, an obvious one,' he explains.
Earlier this year Solidarity submitted papers to the Labour Court in Cape Town against the DCS on behalf of five of its members. The case was brought against the DCS in the Western Cape for its controversial affirmative action plan. Solidarity argues that the DCS's blatant policy of absolute representation is unfair, irrational and unlawful. According to the DCS's affirmative action plan, every workplace, even at provincial and regional level, must reflect the national race demography. As a result, white - and particularly coloured - employees in the Western Cape stand almost no chance to be appointed or promoted.
Other nominations in this category included Absa and Cell C for their cold and clinical retrenchment processes implemented earlier this year, as well as Woolworths, after this group did not retract advertisements for posts for which only black candidates would be considered.
This year, the award for employees of the year goes to employees in the mining industry who did not participate in the illegal strikes. These employees kept on working loyally amid threats and intimidation from their striking colleagues during the large scale unrest in the mining industry. ‘Thanks to these employees, who carried on working loyally and with a sense of duty, safety standards could, to a large extent, be maintained at many of the mines, which ensured that production could resume safely once the strikes were over,' Kruger said.
The trade union also nominated all emergency personnel and life savers, as well as employees of private security services for this award. ‘Right through the year, but especially during holiday times, these employees often risk their own lives to come to the rescue of strangers, and employees of private security services, in particular, play a major role to ensure safety in our crime-ridden country.'
In the category employers' incentive for meritorious achievement, mining company, Anglo Gold Ashanti and banking giant, FNB were nominated. Anglo Gold Ashanti took the honours. ‘This employer has a reputation among trade unions, large and small alike, as a highly transparent and consultative employer. The fact that this employer does not let itself be intimidated and strictly adheres to its disciplinary codes and to existing agreements, is a sign of strong leadership and that is what is needed to again achieve stability within the industry,' Kruger emphasised.
There were four very strong contenders for the title of worst executive of the year. Absa's chief executive, Maria Ramos, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, and the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, were all strong contenders. Joemat-Pettersson was appointed as 2012's worst executive because of her hotel spending of almost R1,6 million during the past two years. In the meantime, she came to the defence of a large group of striking farm workers in the Boland after they had caused damages in the area amounting to an estimated R120 million. Joemat-Pettersson raised an objection to the prosecution of individuals who had committed those crimes.
Three awards were made in the category special awards made to employers. The Sticky Fingers Award was made to the Department of Health, which was not only plagued by large-scale corruption, but also failed to pay service providers for essential services and maintenance work. The Shoot yourself in the foot Award was given to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for not filling around 70 posts for the sake of affirmative action. Finally, the Come and Go Award was awarded to Telkom. Pinky Moholi resigned in November and is Telkom's fifth CEO to do so during the past two years.
Statement issued by Johan Kruger, Spokesperson: Solidarity and Dirk Hermann, Deputy General Secretary: Solidarity, December 21 2012
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