THE IMPORTANCE OF DEPARTMENTAL BARGAINING CHAMBERS AS REQUIRED IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE WORKPLACES.

This article is aimed at giving meaning to the importance of the departmental bargaining chambers as required in the public service workplaces. The departmental bargaining chambers serve as the critical legal structure to engage with management at the workplace level. It serves as the policy development structure and a platform of expression where parties (employer/employee) thrash out policy and collective bargaining matters. This system enables the parties to achieve agreements on matters of mutual interest including conflict resolution at the source of origin. The collective bargaining chambers in the workplace serve to strengthen the union bargaining power and increase their sphere of influence on policy and decision-making processes. This is a necessary legislative structure to enhance service delivery through social dialogue. To effect the bargaining chambers in the public service workplaces, they are stratified in terms of sector specific interest, namely, the Public Health and Social Development Sectoral Bargaining Council (PHSDSBC), Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), General Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council (GPSSBC) and the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). Further on collective bargaining issues that straddle sectoral councils collectively converge under the auspices of the PSCBC to attain policy and agreements that cover all employees in the public service alike. The mandate and powers of the departmental bargaining chambers in the public service workplaces are regulated through collective agreements of the sectoral bargaining chambers. The powers of the departmental bargaining chambers should be complementary to those of the sector and should not contradict the role of the central bargaining chamber. The departmental chambers are created to keep the balance between management and employees in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]