Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives

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1 Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives 1. Introduction In our report to the last regional conference we indicated that the project was beginning to accelerate towards goal achievement. We may recall that the overall objective of the project is to contribute to the development and setting up of a worker roving health and safety representatives (RSR) scheme in agriculture under the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act based on a study of the Swedish safety representatives system; which leads to the campaign to ensure ratification and implementation of ILO convention 184 on Safety and Health in Agriculture. This report will cover the period of 2007 to 2011 focusing on the following: Activities carried out in the period under review. Achievements. Challenges Conclusions 2. Activities The following activities were carried out: 2.1. Training of shop stewards and union Health and safety representatives. The project ran series of workshops for 24 shop stewards and trade union health and safety representatives on the concept of roving safety representative (RSR) and basic OHSE. 14 were expected to become RSR when the project took off the ground.

2 2 / Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives In 2009, 2010 and 2011 a series of Trade union strategic workshops looked at a number of campaigns to ensure that the vulnerable workers are protected. These workshops, evaluation and planning meetings developed strategies of ensuring that there is a strong worker and trade union support for the RSR on the ground. Organising campaigns became an area of focus Development of training manual and promotional material In 2008 a training manual for trade union RSR was developed and printed. Further promotional material in the form of posters and flyers were also printed. In 2009 the tripartite technical committee developed a training manual for the training of the elected RSRs in the project sites. In 2010 posters and a booklet on pestices were printed with Government funds by the tripartite technical committee Setting up of a RSR scheme in agriculture. In setting up the scheme the project achieved the following: Developed a guiding RSR Project document that informed the implementation of the RSR scheme. The aim of the pilot project was to test the effectiveness and suitability of the RSR scheme in South African agriculture. Identified and agreed on a number of farms in the pilot project sites to participate in the initial pilot scheme. A total of 24 farms agreed to take part in the pilot project. Later only 20 remained in the project as some merged or stopped operating whilst others withdrew from the project. Identification programme for potential RSRs in the pilot sites was developed and implemented to kick start the scheme. Two provincial tripartite technical committees were set up to monitor work and progress of the designated RSRs in their respective areas. Operating procedures and checklists were developed and used by the RSRs in carrying workplace checks Operation of the RSR scheme in South Africa. After the finalisation of the identification programme early in 2009 where a total of 56 farm workers were elected by their colleagues to be candidate RSRs, the project started being operational. The following activities were key in ensuring that the RSR scheme took off the ground: Introductory training on basic OHSE and the RSR concept was carried out for candidates RSRs. 8 RSR were elected, trained and designated on the farms of the two pilot project areas, Tzaneen and Malelane. 3 of them were women.

3 Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives / 3 In 2009, 2010 and 2011 they periodically conducted workplace checks and made recommendations for improvements to the farmers. Their combined total number of workplace checks for the period is 74. Their work improved the helath and safety situations on farms around the pilot areas Launch of the RSR project in agriculture The success of the pilot project encouraged Government to make the project one of its key strategic priorities for 2010 t As a result in October 2010, the Minister of Labour officially launched the RSR project a fully fletched project to be rolled out to all provinces by It ceased to be a pilot project. Government started funding the project to a large extent Awareness raising campaings In order to gain and sustain the support of workers and farmers in the field for the project the project launched campaigns to raise awareness: In 2007 and 2008 awareness raising campaign for farmers, workers and Government officials in the identified project sites were conducted to ensure that the differences between a Labour Inspector and a roving safety representative is undertsood. Campaigns to raise awareness of workers on OHSE and HIV/AIDS were carried out in the project sites. Awareness campaings on OHSE, HIV/AIDS and the RSR concept among workers in the identified project sites helped to gain their support and made them appreciate the importance of OHSE. Posters and leaflets on pesticides produced by the project helped raise awareness Advocacy work In 2009 the project conducted an international workshop to prepare inputs for the negotiations on code of good practice on safety and health in agriculture. The project lobbied Government and farmers to support the position of IUF on the new code especially in respect of the RSR scheme. The ILO meetings of experts on the code took place 2009 and finalised in The new code has the RSR as an outreach programme Organising campaigns A recruitment and organising campaign was launched in 2009 to build trade union organisation on farms and increase union membership for FAWU and NUFBWSAW.

4 4 / Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives In 2009, 2010 and 2011 series of workshops developed strategies of how to unionise the farms in the project areas. In August 2011 an organising workshop divided the identified unorganised farm in the project areas between the two unions. This was done to avoid conflict over membership between FAWU and NUFBWSAW. The organising campaign is slowly gaining momentum. The two unions managed to increase their membership in the project areas by at least 10%. 3. Achievements In the period under review the project contributed to the following, among others, achievements: Some of the farms in the project areas were now unionised by either FAWU or NUFBWSAW. Health and safety conditions in the farms have improved since the implementation of the project. Quality of inspections of farms has also improved. OHS awareness among farm workers has also being raised. The above achievements show that the plight of vulnerable workers is being attended to and the unionisation of farm workers, albeit slow, is increasing union membership 4. Challenges The project experienced some challenges in the period under review:. Lack of capacity within the union to launch a vigorous recruitment and organising campains in agriculture. Considering that agriculture is difficult sector to organise especially in South Africa where access to farms is still a problem, the unions situation is compounded. The anti union attitude of farmers with the influence of labour consultants hamper our project work. Some farmers and their organisations withdrew fro the project in They accused the unions of using the project for organising purposes. Union rivalry and fight for membership was a challenge that emerged immediately the RSRs were being elected. Most farmr workers in the project aresas were not unionised. Tension between the different participating unions in the project developed as they all rushed to grab the new membership that has been opened by the project. It is hoped that the August workshop resolution is respected. The speed at which the Government is rolling out the project may lead to some distortions of the project as unions officials participating in the project have other responsibilities. We may be a a bit overstretched.this is an issue affiliates and the project will have to develop a strategy on and ensure all appointed RSRs are workers and in fact union members. 5. Conclusions In conclusion, the project has established the roving safety representative scheme in agriculture. We need to intensify our campaign for the RSR concept to be put in the

5 Item 6 (a) (iv): Roving Safety Representatives / 5 national legislation as the OHS legal reform process is underway. Further, we need to intensify our campaign on ratification of ILO convention 184. Capacitating affiliates on OHSE matters remain critical for the success of the RSR scheme especially on the ground. Capacity building programme for shop stewards and union health and safety representatives should be carried out in order to build a strong organisation in the workplace. The project has managed to open the doors for unions to organise farm workers. Further, it is known that farm workers in this country are poorly organised. The project will have to develop a fully fletched organising programme in agriculture to build union membership for affiliates.