Back to: Introduction to the Labour Relations Act (LRA)
2.1 Employees’ Right to Freedom of Association
Welcome to Module 2 of our course on the Labour Relations Act, 1995. In this module, we will focus on the rights to freedom of association and the general protections provided under the Act.
Firstly, let’s discuss the employees’ right to freedom of association. According to the Labour Relations Act, every employee has the right to participate in forming a trade union or federation of trade unions. Employees also have the right to join a trade union, subject to the trade union’s constitution. This means that employees can freely choose to be members of any trade union that aligns with their interests and workplace needs.
Once an employee becomes a member of a trade union, they have additional rights, again subject to the trade union’s constitution. These rights include participating in the lawful activities of the trade union, participating in the election of any of its office-bearers, officials, or trade union representatives, and standing for election as an office-bearer or trade union representative. If elected, they have the right to hold office and carry out the functions of a trade union representative as outlined in the Labour Relations Act or any collective agreement.
Furthermore, members of a trade union that is part of a federation of trade unions have similar rights within the federation. These rights enable employees to fully engage in the activities and governance of their trade unions and federations, thereby promoting a democratic and participatory workplace environment.