Ulemasa Union

09/11/2022

Joining a union means you are joining a group that will represent your interests when it comes to issues such as salary, working hours, and other conditions at work.

Ulemasa Union is now accepting membership applications online at https://join.ulemasa.org.za

Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions

05/11/2021

8 Juta's Bus. L. 11 (2000)
Employer Failure to Attend a CCMA Arbitration Hearing



Embassies are no immune to the rules of the CCMA and to Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 which intends:

to change the law governing labour relations and, for that purpose-
to give effect to section 27 of the Constitution;
to regulate the organisational rights of trade unions;
to promote and facilitate collective bargaining at the workplace and at sectoral level;
to regulate the right to strike and the recourse to lockout in conformity with the Constitution;
to promote employee participation in decision-making through the establishment of workplace forums;
to provide simple procedures for the resolution of labour disputes through statutory conciliation, mediation and arbitration (for which purpose the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration is established), and through independent alternative dispute resolution services accredited for that purpose;
to establish the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court as superior courts, with exclusive jurisdiction to decide matters arising from the Act;
to provide for a simplified procedure for the registration of trade unions and employers' organisations, and to provide for their regulation to ensure democratic practices and proper financial control;
to give effect to the public international law obligations of the Republic relating to labour relations;
to amend and repeal certain laws relating to labour relations; and
to provide for incidental matters.
Amends
Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993
Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956
Friendly Societies Act 25 of 1956
General Law Third Amendment Act 129 of 1993
Agricultural Labour Act 147 of 1993
Agricultural Labour Amendment Act 50 of 1994
Commencement
1 January 1996, Sections 70(1), 70(2)(a), 71, 108, 109, 112, 116 to 121, 124, 125, 153 to 156, 159, 169 to 172, 176, 203, 206-208, Schedule 3 and item 23 of Schedule 7
13 September 1996, Sections 122, 127, 128 and 132
11 November 1996
Amendments
Amended by Labour Relations Amendment Act 8 of 2018
Amended by Legal Aid South Africa Act 39 of 2014

21/10/2021

The maintains a zero-tolerance policy against fraud and corruption. The CCMA will never charge you for any of its Statutory services. STATUTORY SERVICES ARE FREE. Users and stakeholders are urged to play their part by reporting any known and suspected fraudulent activity.
WhatsApp: 0860 004 004
Toll-Free Number: 0860 666 348
Email: [email protected]

21/10/2021

Trade union membership: your employment rights

Employers and employment agencies must not treat you unfairly because you decide to join, decide to leave, refuse to leave or refuse to join a trade union. If they do, you may be able to make a complaint to the CCMA through the Union for the Local Employees in Missions accredited to South Africa office which can be contacted on 012 440 1231 or email [email protected].

Trade union membership: your right to choose
You have the right to:

choose to join or not join a trade union
decide to leave, or stay a member of, a trade union
belong to more than one trade union
You can exercise your right to choose at any time.

Your employer is not allowed to try to make you change your decision by offering you a benefit if you change your mind, or by threatening to penalise you if you do not. Your employer is not allowed to penalise you later for keeping to your decision.

Refusing to employ you for trade union membership reasons
In order to start work, no employer or employment agency may require you to:

join a trade union
leave a trade union
be a member of a specific trade union
become a member of a different trade union
Nor are they allowed to advertise a job with a requirement that you do any of those things.

An employment agency must not refuse to provide you with its services because you:

are or are not a trade union member
are not willing to accept a requirement to do any of those things
Where an employer or employment agency requires you to join a specific trade union in order to start work, this is called a ‘closed shop’ practice, and is unlawful.

This also applies to jobs where you would be employed by a trade union, and to jobs which a trade union advertises on behalf of another employer.

If you are not hired for a job or are refused the services of an employment agency for a trade union membership reason you may be entitled to complain to an industrial tribunal.

Dismissal for trade union membership reasons
Your employer must not dismiss you or select you for redundancy because you:

are or want to be a member of a trade union
are not or do not want to be a member of a trade union
If you are a trade union member, your employer must not dismiss or select you for redundancy because you:

took part or wanted to take part in trade union activities, at an appropriate time, as a member
used or wanted to use, at an appropriate time, the services provided by your trade union for its members
Time off for trade union duties and activities
If you are not a trade union member you do not have to meet any requirement by your employer that you:

pay a trade union subscription
allow your employer to make deductions from your pay instead of paying a trade union subscription
make any payments to another person or organisation (such as a charity, political party or trade union) instead of paying a trade union subscription
Your employer must not dismiss you or select you for redundancy because you refused these requirements.

Other unfavourable treatment
Treating you unfavourably includes, for example, refusing you promotion or training opportunities, or withholding a pay increase.

If you are a trade union member your employer must not treat you unfairly in order to deter you from:

joining a trade union
taking part in its activities
making use of the services it provides to its members
leaving it
Your employer must not offer you a sum of money or other financial inducement to persuade you not to do these things.

What to do if you have a problem
You can raise a grievance with your employer or agency and may be entitled to make a complaint to the Trade Union office who will refer the matter to the CCMA on your behalf if your a member working in the Diplomatic Sector if you think that either:

your employer has treated you unfavourably for a reason connected to your trade union membership or your decision not to join a trade union
an employment agency has discriminated against you for this reason
How to resolve a problem at work
If you think your employer has dismissed you or made you redundant for a reason connected to your trade union membership or your decision not to join a trade union, you may be entitled to make a complaint of unfair dismissal to an the Trade Union office who will refer your matter to the CCMA.

Unfair dismissal
If you have a concern about your employment agency, you can contact the Union for the Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa for advice in making a complaint.

21/10/2021

Trade union membership: your employment rights Employers and employment agencies must not treat you unfairly because you decide to join, decide to leave,

12/10/2021

Better Pay, Better Benefits, and a Voice on the Job

As a union member, you have a strong collective voice for negotiating with employers about pay, benefits, working conditions, and how jobs get done. Having that say and collective voice gives you a union advantage.

Today, more people are taking steps to form unions than at any time in recent history. You can be one of them!

• The first step to joining a union is to locate your union and contact it for union facts and guidance on organizing
• In South Africa, people working in the embassy have their own Union recognized by the Department of Labour
• It is first in the world and first in Africa

Do you know your rights as an employee working in the Diplomatic sector?

• Get help today by sending an email to [email protected]

Most people working in a Diplomatic Sector presume that DIRCO is responsible for their employment disputes with the embassies, But unfortunately, the Department of International Relations & Cooperation’s will not assist anyone in terms of mediation if you’re fired from work or unfairly dismissed. DIRCO will actually do the opposite, instead of mediating, it will instead protect the Diplomats in terms of the Diplomatic immunities and privileges just like in the case of Grace Mugabe and Al-Bashir

But what do immunity and privileges mean for common employees in a diplomatic sector and how much can a diplomat get away with?

• Top diplomatic officers have full immunity, as do their deputies and families. That means ambassadors can commit just about any crime—from jaywalking to murder—and still be immune from prosecution. They can't be arrested or forced to testify in court
• The Vienna Convention, which has been agreed to by 187 countries, states that all “diplomatic agents” including “the members of the diplomatic staff, and the administrative and technical staff and of the service staff of the mission” should be granted
What is our mission as a Union for Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa?
• Our Mission is to provide a professional, transparent environment on how to handle disputes that arise between our members with their employers.
• We focus on a holistic approach of missions conferred with immunities and privileges by using the Immunities and Privileges Act 2001, which reads with the South African constitution, 1996, the Foreign States Immunities Act 1981, Labour Relations Act, 1995 and its amendments of 1997, Uniforms rules of court, Vienna convention on diplomatic Relations, 1961, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 and any other relevant legal provisions
Working people from all walks of life join together in unions to gain a voice at work. This includes laborers, highly skilled professionals, and technical workers, even professional athletes, actors, and actresses. Learn more about Union for the Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa

• Get in touch with a union organizer. On 012 440 1231 or email [email protected]
If for some reason you can't join a union but want to support your fellow working South Africans in the Diplomatic Sector and fight for good working conditions, Violation of Human Rights, Gender-Based Violence, and racism please email [email protected]

If you’re a human rights activist, Labour activist, or researcher and would like to volunteer at the Union for Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa email [email protected]

For donations please email [email protected] or call +27 428 4723

Please note that Union for the Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa is an organization for all Diplomatic sector employees including those employed by international organizations such as the United Nations, European Union to South Africa, African Union, Pan African Parliament, Arab League and all other international organizations in South Africa.
To Join please contact [email protected] or call 012 440 1231

12/10/2021

As a union member, you have a strong collective voice for negotiating with employers about pay, benefits, working conditions, and how jobs get done. Having that say and collective voice gives you a union advantage. Today, more people are taking steps to form unions than at any time in recent history...

23/08/2021

The Green Paper on Comprehensive Social Security and Retirement Reform proposes the creation of a new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) - a government-managed fund which will provide retirement, disability benefits and unemployment benefits.

23/08/2021

The hope lies in our struggles Dear friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen 100 years since the founding of the ILO have been completed this year, and this is an opportunity to make an objective evaluation from the perspective of the World Working Class. To draw the true conclusions from the side....

26/07/2021

Dear Comrades.

We are proud to announce victory in the lawsuit for Union for the Local Employees in Missions Accredited to South Africa (ULEMASA) that was filed by the previous General Secretary MR. RICHARD MUHIRHI!

The Commissioner found that MR. RICHARD MUHIRHI dismissal was fair which has resulted in an Arbitration award being issued in favour of Sipho Mahlangu on behalf of the Union for the Local Employees in Missions Accredited (ULEMASA)

Kindly find attached pictures and PDF format for your reference.

Warm Regards

_________

General Secretary

Sipho Mahlangu.

13/05/2021

12/05/2021

Dear Users, Stakeholders
You can stream the Department of Public Enterprises 2021 budget vote on social media pages of the Department