Employee Relations Practitioner: Employee Relations: Misconduct, Grievances and Disputes at Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

REQUIREMENTS :

• National Senior Certificate, or equivalent and a 3-year, relevant post-school qualification. 3 years’ relevant experience.

DUTIES :

• Render effective misconduct, grievances, disputes and case matters: Misconduct: Handle misconduct cases through investigation, initiation, and liaising with organised labour; Compiling of submissions to obtain mandate to institute disciplinary action and/or the finalisation thereof; Assist in securing a presiding officer to be appointed, where necessary; Maintain a management plan to ensure compliance with timeframes; Deal with all types of enquiries relating to misconduct; Provide guidance on misconduct matters; Perform general administrative duties; Capture cases on Personnel and Salary System (PERSAL); Stay abreast with latest case law and policies.
• Grievances: Facilitate the grievance procedure in terms of the rules for the handling of complaints and grievances for the public service and educators; Monitor time frames and follow-up on outstanding grievances with designated line managers’ delegated to deal with such matters; Finalise grievance based on the outcome report received from the respective line manager; Provide guidance and deal with all types of enquiries relating to grievance, legal and/or financial implications of personnel related matters; Perform general administrative duties; Capture cases on PERSAL. Disputes: Obtain background information on the dispute; Analyse the dispute referral in order to prepare for the conciliation and/or arbitration; Keep abreast with latest case law/collective agreements/regulatory framework in order to prepare submission and obtain a mandate to defend and/or settle a dispute; Represent the department in the dispute resolution process during conciliation and/or arbitration for both educators and public servants; Deal with all types of enquires relating to disputes; Liaise with organised labour and representatives; Perform general administrative duties;
• Capture cases on PERSAL. ER case matters: Prepare and support role players with the relevant documents for labour court case i.e. review applications or similar; Monitor and check the adherence to the respective timeframes for the respective court procedures; Keep diary for consultations with counsel and court dates; Implementation of court judgements; Maintain and update a monthly record of court cases. Execute Collective Bargaining and Training services: Assist in collective bargaining consultations with education unions: Provincial Education Labour Relations Chamber (PELRC): Arrange caucus meetings and log arrangements for PELRC, Provide feedback report to Head of Department (HoD), Compile follow up on action list; and,
• File documents and update statistics Task Teams: Caucus meetings for task teams and log arrangements; Compile minutes and action lists for task teams; and Follow up actions of each task teams. Assist in collective bargaining consultations with public service unions: Multi-laterals and bi-lateral meetings with unions: Arrange caucus meetings and log arrangements; Compile minutes of meeting and action lists; and Follow up and compile notices and reminders. Assist with secondments and time-off for union secondments: Compile submissions to HoD for approval with letters to role players; Send approved/signed letters to various role players; and File documents/letters, etc. Execute recruitment and selection notices to unions. Send notices to unions of adverts. Assist in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) consultation processes including: Execute administrative duties; Logistical arrangements; and; Notices and reminders to stakeholders. Execute training and support: Identify training needs for educators and public servants; Assist with the formulation of training programmes; Conduct training sessions on labour relations matters; Procurement of training material and presenters; Evaluate trainers and training material; and Perform general administrative duties. Deal with all types of enquiries relating to collective bargaining and training. Keep a monthly record of cases (statistics). Assist with collective bargaining matters. Perform advisory and policy research services. Keeping abreast with updated legislation and the latest relevant case law in the Labour relations field; o Gather information on the latest amended relevant legislation, case law, articles, law journals etc.; and Provide guidance to staff on the latest developments. Gather and compile information on topical matters affecting WCED. Assist the sub-directorate with: Gathering of information on topical matters arising from arbitration awards; and Update staff on the latest developments in the labour relations/law field. Perform all activities related to data-capturing, information processing, analysis, sharing and reporting relating to the functions of the component. Gather information and provide trend analysis on all employee related matters. Compile a register and maintain record of misconduct cases such as Remuneration outside of the public service (RWOPS), appeals, legal opinions, court cases, and the provision of labour relations advisory services to the WCED. Handle and compile appeal documents for the
• Provincial Minister (Educators), and Appeal Authority (Public servants): Prepare appeal bundles from all the relevant disciplinary hearings documents and the recordings; Submit appeals to the Provincial Minister and Appeal Authority; Follow up on outstanding appeals from said authorities; and Update and maintain the case management system. Keep a monthly record of appeal statistics. Execute administrative support to the specific functions: Apply efficient management and protection of sensitive and confidential information coming in and going out the sub-directorate in compliance with the applicable prescripts. Represent the employer at conciliation/arbitration meetings and act as Presiding Officer in disciplinary hearings. Assist with advice to management on all aspects of labour relations. Act as departmental representative in formal disciplinary hearings (educators and public servants). Contribute to the operational objectives of the directorate. Promote sound labour relations in the public education sector. Keep up to date with matters relating to grievances, disputes and misconduct cases. Assist with procurement, inventory and general finance processes. Draft submissions and memoranda on various challenges. Redistribute correspondence and redirect enquiries to the relevant officials. Keep record and follow up on enquiries and correspondence. Direct general inquiries from the public, media and administration. Check and verify outgoing documentation. Assist with diary management by coordinating meetings and appointments. Prepare all relevant documentations for appointments and meetings.