ELRC 202324 Annual Report

EDUCATION LABOUR RELATIONS COUNCIL | 2023/24 ANNUAL REPORT

L EDUCATION LABOUR RELATIONS COUNCI

Disputes finalised by outcome: April 2023 to March 2024 The ELRC finalised 781 disputes during the period under review. A total of 292 arbitration awards were rendered. A total of 44 disputes were settled at arbitration, while 11 were settled at conciliation. Withdrawn disputes amounted to 165, with 47 being withdrawn at conciliation and 118 withdrawn at arbitration. Seven cases were dismissed at arbitration and 97 rulings were handed down during the period under review. Outcomes of special disputes: April 2023 to March 2024 Since the implementation of Collective Agreement No. 3 of 2018, the Council received a considerable number of disputes, which are dealt with through Inquiry by Arbitrators as they relate to alleged sexual misconduct. The Council received 82 cases of allegations of sexual misconduct this year. The Council also issued 56 arbitration awards for special disputes for the period under review. These disputes involved children as either victims or witnesses. The Council’s challenges in these cases remain the unavailability of special venues which are child-friendly to avoid secondary trauma associated with the direct contact between the alleged perpetrator and the victim. The Council is discussing with the Department of Justice to find ways to improve this situation.

Arbitrations heard in the period: April 2023 to March 2024 A total of 1 688 disputes were scheduled for arbitration during the period under review.

Cases carried over from the previous period A total of 210 cases from previous financial years are to be carried over to the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, of which 155 are from the 2023/24 financial year, 35 are from the 2022/23 financial year, and 20 cases are from previous years. This represents a reduction of 74 cases compared to the carried-over cases reported in the 2022/23 financial year.

Cases from previous financial years

2017/18

6

1

2019/20

3

2020/21

2021/22

10

35

2022/23

155

2023/24

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

90