IN THE past year industrial action at CX's City Deep terminal has amounted to a one-day work-stoppage, which was a national call-up.
Strikes, gate-closures and industrial action have become non-issues, according to senior manager CX operations, Bux Coetzee. And the reason, he believes, lies in communication. A year ago we introduced the concept of a ÔCX Bosberaad', a four-day workshop which provides a platform for management and unions to get together and thrash out their differences. While heated argument was a feature of the initial meetings, which have been followed up quarterly, after six get-togethers understanding of each other's opposing viewpoints has been achieved, according to Coetzee.
Management realises the need for information from labour and uses the meetings for this purpose. Labour on the other hand is aware of CX's budget, income and expenditure and has access to the strategic plan for the business. In terms of CX's turn strategy, before the year 2000 one third of the workforce will be white and two thirds black - and this is the result of a plan drawn up by management with union input.
Weekly meetings of management and unions are held every Thursday and communications is excellent, says Coetzee. The essence is that we all have the same objective and are prepared to co-operate in order to achieve it.
