Abstract
M.Comm. (Labor Relations)
Jan Hiemstra of Barlow Rand, as quoted by Kate Jowell in 1989, had passed the following comment on the industrial council system in South Africa:
"The Industrial Council system has survived the first post-Wiehahn decade. I don't think it will see out the second decade." The main purpose of this study was to explore the validity of the above comment and establish a future prognosis of the industrial council structure as a collective bargaining forum in South Africa's formal labour relations system. In the course of the study, which was primarily of a conceptual nature, other aspects of industrial councils were also addressed, such as their theoretical, legal and historical frameworks; with consideration of two operational examples; the presentation of
views on contemporary issues affecting industrial councils; and recommendations for their future viability. The methodology adopted was that of the dissemination of literature on the subject, a self-completion survey questionnaire which was submitted to industrial councils and parties thereto, as well as certain authorities on the subject, supplemented by personal interviews. The respondents to the survey questionnaire concluded positively,
with a few exceptions, that the industrial council system would survive the second post·Wiehahn decade, provided that individual industrial councils responded to the changing needs of society, and the industries and employer/employee populations that they serve. It was cautioned too that due to the relatively small sample obtained in the survey component of the study, the survey responses should be generalised with circumspection, although the results nonetheless brought forward important issues for
consideration by industrial councils.