At the moment, one cannot say, with any degree of certainty, that the economy( and the metals and engineering sector in particular) will stabilize and experience growth, although a comprehensive study by SEIFSA’ s Economics and Commercial Division forecasts that 2017 and 2018 will be better production years if we manage to avoid industrial unrest in the sector this year. However, recent political developments in the country have significantly altered the economic landscape, unfortunately not in any favourable way.
Q
: SEIFSA is still predominantly known for industrial relations and wage bargaining, with everything else being perceived as being less important. How would you advise the SEIFSA management team to change this?
A
: The future of SEIFSA depends more and more on offering members especially professional, multi-faceted business services. In addition to the broad range of services it already provides, SEIFSA must continue extending its support, skills and assistance to members and potential new members outside of its traditional membership base.
The challenge for SEIFSA is to innovate and expand its service offerings in the industrial, business, policy framework, human capital and skills development, economics and commercial, legal and safety, health, environment and quality fields beyond just industrial relations services.
Given a fast-changing global environment, the trend is to have more matters dealt with at plant level and fewer at industry level. This being the case, SEIFSA is ideally positioned to offer professional business assistance to members in a wide array of services covering the full business spectrum.
Q
: In your view, why should companies continue to be supportive of SEIFSA?
A
: There are enormous challenges that lie ahead, challenges across the broader business agenda( and not just within the collective bargaining space). In our view, what is needed is a focused strategy, a single, powerful voice representing the views and concerns of all the Associations which, in turn, talk for and on behalf of their respective members.
There is currently a very strong view by some that Collective Bargaining as we know it should collapse.
A powerful SEIFSA is best placed to debate and / or negotiate this issue on behalf of the industry.
And then to repeat an earlier point, I am firmly of the view that SEIFSA is uniquely positioned to harness the considerable talents within the broader Federation structure, commit to an even stronger SEIFSA going forward, and present a sound action plan, response and / or solution to whatever engagement or forum SEIFSA considers necessary.
Q
: What is your view of the future of collective bargaining?
A
: In the metals and engineering industries, employers across the board have acknowledged that the viability and sustainability of the current collective bargaining structures and processes are under threat from two key, socio-economic forces: the enhanced
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