Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)NoticesBargaining Council for the Metal and Engineering IndustriesExtension of the Consolidated Main Collective Agreement to Non-parties (for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024)Part I46. Time Off for the Training of Shop Stewards and for Trade Union Office Bearers to attend Union meetings |
| (a) | An employee who is an office bearer of a representative trade union, in terms of section 15 of the Act is entitled to take reasonable leave during working hours for the purposes of performing the functions of that office. The representative trade union and the employer may agree to the number of days of leave, the number of days paid leave and the conditions attached to any such leave. |
| (b) |
| (i) | A trade union representative, appointed in terms of section 14 of the Act, may, subject to reasonable conditions to be agreed at company level, be entitled to take reasonable time off with pay during working hours to be trained in any subject relevant to the performance of the functions of a trade union representative. |
| (ii) | The parties agree that the issue of full time shop stewards and health and safety representatives will be a matter for plant level agreement. |
| (ii) | Union general meetings may take place on a quarterly basis at plant level subject to the time and duration of these meetings being agreed to at plant level. |
| (iii) | The parties agree to an industry minimum of 5 days paid leave per annum per shop steward for shop-steward training. |
| (iv) | The above provisions constitute a minimum floor of rights and any rights exceeding these at plant level will remain in place. The parties may agree further rights at plant level. |
| (v) | Where a shop steward is granted leave to attend shop stewards training, this will be treated as a shift worked. |