The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the Free State province welcomes the decision by the Performing Arts Centre of Free State to absorb its contract workers into permanent positions. This follows the intervention of the Federation that took the matter of these workers into the CCMA after discovering that these workers contracts were consistently being renewed over a period of more than ten years.

 On the 10th of May 2022, a settlement was reached by all parties that these workers will be given permanent positions. It was also agreed that over the next six months both the Federation and the employer will engage in a process of harnessing the working conditions of the workers to ensure a smooth transition.

The Federation in the Free State is satisfied with the outcome of the CCMA processes. The workers have also been organised into one of the Federation’s affiliated unions NEHAWU, so that they can continue to get better services.

We remain perturbed though that this issue had to be resolved at the level of the CCMA when it could have been resolved at the workplace level. Our commitment to the creation of decent work and better working conditions for workers remains unwavering.

The struggle continues!

Issued by COSATU Free State

Enquiries Free State Provincial Secretary Monyatso oa Mahlatsi @ 051 447 5499 or 076 115 9923