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PER: Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad
versión On-line ISSN 1727-3781
PER vol.14 no.1 Potchefstroom ene. 2011
A new look at the old problem of a reasonable expectation: the reasonableness of repeated renewals of fixed-term contracts as opposed to indefinite employment
SB Gericke
LLB LLM (UP). Lecturer in Labour Law at the University of Pretoria. email@example.com
In South Africa, the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA) regulates and protects the position of the employee who reasonably expects that a fixed-term contract will be renewed on the same or similar terms while the employer only offered to renew the contract on less favourable terms or in some instances was not prepared to renew the fixed-term contract at all. The LRA regards the latter conduct as a dismissal, as long as the employee can prove that the employer was responsible for creating the reasonable expectation of contractual renewal. In contrast to this position, the LRA does not regulate or protect the position of the employee whose fixed-term contract was repeatedly renewed on the same, similar or even improved terms, while the employer was in a position to offer the employee indefinite employment. The employer may even have created a reasonable expectation that repeated renewals would result in permanent employment. The exploitation and abuse of the fixed-term contract to the extent that an employee is deprived of employment security and the benefits linked to an employment relationship of indefinite duration have prompted a comparative investigation into this particular field of law.
Keywords: Fixed-term contract; reasonable expectation; section 23 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996; section 186(1)(b) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995
1 Introduction
The fixed-term contract has been used as a legal instrument by parties who wish to engage in an employment relationship within the framework of predictability and freedom to control the duration of their contractual relationship. Consensus between both parties on the contents and the specific limitations of this kind of atypical employment contract is vital to avoid any misunderstanding and unreasonable expectations on the part of the employee. At the conclusion of the contract, the parties need to be ad idem that employment would start at the time of the conclusion of their contract, or at a specific date or event stipulated therein, and would inevitably terminate automatically at such time as the parties have agreed upon. It should have been the mutual intention of the parties that the purpose of this type of contract is linked to a limited duration, unlike that of the traditional contract of indefinite employment, which is likely to continue for an indefinite period.
Section 186(1)(b) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 (LRA) regulates and protects the position of an employee who can prove that the employer's conduct gave rise to a reasonable expectation that the fixed-term contract would be renewed on the same or similar terms while the employer is only prepared to offer the employee a renewal on less favourable terms, or not at all. This decision of the employer constitutes a dismissal.
While the general focus has been on fairness and reasonableness in terms of any expectation that the employee might have had regarding the employer's intention to renew the fixed-term contract at the end of the specific term, the matter of reasonableness and fairness regarding the employer's repeated offers to extend the employment relationship in order to avoid indefinite employment1 has not yet been addressed by the legislator. Renewals of fixed-term contracts do not per se give rise to an objective basis for a reasonable expectation regarding further renewals or indefinite employment.2 A series of offers by the employer to the employee to engage in repeated fixed-term contracts, instead of extending an offer of indefinite employment to that employee, has been the topic of hot debate and dispute in the arena of labour law under the following circumstances: (a) where the employer is in the position to do so; and/or (b) where the employer was responsible for creating a reasonable expectation that repeated renewals would result in indefinite employment when possible.3
The purpose of this contribution is to consider a legal approach that could regulate a series of fixed-term contract renewals and prevent the exploitation of employees who find themselves trapped in repeated fixed-term contracts, instead of being indefinitely employed, where a reasonable expectation has been created that such an appointment is indeed possible but was avoided by the employer in order to circumvent restrictive labour legislation regarding dismissals and rights afforded to employees in terms of section 185 of the LRA.4 As the weaker bargaining parties in the employment relationship, employees often find themselves in a position where an unstable life-line is thrown at them by employers who wish to take advantage of employees in temporary employment positions by withholding rights and benefits from them instead of offering them an indefinite employment opportunity to create employment security and stability, where such an appointment is feasible.5 An employee in a fixed-term contract who renders the same standard of service and delivers the same amount of work as an employee in an indefinite position is usually deprived of a certain level of status, remuneration, benefits, promotion and training opportunities exclusively available to permanent members of staff. Exploitation of this kind should be prevented, as it is tantamount to a violation of the fundamental right to fair labour practices by legal protection afforded to employees against fixed-term malpractices.6
2 Underlying legal principles of the fixed-term contract
2.1 A constitutional dimension to labour protection
Although section 23(1) of the Constitution7 does not explain in detail the nature of the fair labour practices afforded to everyone, the courts have developed a labour jurisprudence recognising this fundamental right to fair labour practices, as it unfolds in the protection afforded to employees in terms of the labour rights enshrined in labour legislation.8 It is, however, accepted that the fundamental right to fair labour practices is afforded to all employees, whether in a fixed-term relationship or one of indefinite duration.9 It is submitted that a positive duty is therefore placed on the employer in the context of the employment relationship to act within the parameters of the protection afforded by section 23(1).10 The constitutional right to fair labour practices, on the other hand, is as much afforded to the employer as to the employee within the meaning of "everyone".11 The employer is therefore rightfully entitled to conclude fixed-term contracts determined by an "objective condition" such as the arrival of an agreed date, the completion of a specific task or the happening of a particular event.12
Another constitutional dimension of merit is added to the employment relationship in respect of dignity and equality. Section 1 of the Constitution promotes the values of "human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of rights and freedoms".13 Section 9 is a manifestation of these values and affirms that "[e]veryone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law".14 Neither the state nor any person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds including the list of sixteen grounds.15
2.2 The Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995
Cheadle refers to the need for flexibile forms of employment and the corresponding challenges of employment security and legal protection. As he so aptly puts it:16
[T]he traditional model of employment (permanent full-time employment with one employer until retirement) is steadily giving way to less stable (and often more vulnerable) forms of employment. This has two consequences for the labour market regulation. The first is that much of the regulation based on the traditional model is not suited to these new forms of employment. The second is that the modern labour market is dynamic and labour market regulation is always a step behind.
Although the concept of fairness in sections 185 and 186 of the LRA does not regulate the repeated renewal of fixed-term contracts in order to avoid an employment relationship of indefinite duration, this practice certainly begs the question: does the employer's discretion display a degree of fairness and reasonableness when considering repeated renewals of a fixed-term contract as opposed to an offer of indefinite employment? Or does it mirror unscrupulous exploitation by retaining the status quo in the absence of any legal restrictions on an abusive practice followed by some employers?17
According to section 186(2) of the LRA an "unfair labour practice" means "any unfair act or omission that arises between an employer and an employee involving" (a closed list of examples not regulating continual renewal of fixed-term contracts over an extended period of time):18
(a) unfair conduct by the employer relating to promotion, demotion, probation (excluding disputes about dismissals for a reason relating to probation) or training of an employee or relating to the provision of benefits to an employee;
(b) the unfair suspension of an employee or any other unfair disciplinary action short of dismissal in respect of an employee;
(c) the failure or refusal by an employer to reinstate or re-employ a former employee in terms of any agreement; and
(d) an occupational detriment, other than dismissal, in contravention of the Protected Disclosures Act 26 of 2000, on account of the employee having made a protected disclosure defined in that Act.
It is clear from the specific wording of section 186(1)(b) that the principle of fairness which is connected to "reasonableness" is not incorporated in this section to address an employer's decision to engage in a series of repeated fixed-term contracts. The case law seems to be divided on whether or not employees can claim a dismissal in terms of section 186(1)(b) if they claim an expectation of indefinite employment after the lapse of a fixed-term contract. As the stronger bargaining party the employer decides the fate of the fixed-term contract and the employment security of the employee.19 The primary focus is therefore on the decision taken by the employer who acts from a position of power and discretion. The employer could prefer not to renew a fixed-term contract after the lapse thereof or enter into a series of fixed-term contracts for various reasons of which one could be to avoid the legal obligations imposed on employers by labour legislation. On the other hand the employment relationship could be extended for an indefinite period.20
In this regard section 186(1)(b) of the LRA has a restrictive application as this section regulates a fixed-term contract only with regard to a "dismissal"21 In section 186(1)(b) a "'dismissal' means that an employee reasonably expected the employer to renew a fixed term contract of employment on the same or similar terms but the employer offered to renew it on less favourable terms, or did not renew it". Again no mention is made of the reasonableness of repeated renewals of a fixed-term contract or a restriction on the maximum number of successive contracts by the same employer.22
The Draft Labour Relations Amendment Bill, 201023 proposes the following amendment to section 186(1)(b):
an employee engaged under a fixed-term contract of employment reasonably expected the employer -
|to renew a fixed-term contract on the same or similar terms but the employer offered to renew it on similar or less favourable terms, or did not renew it; or
|to offer the employee an indefinite contract of employment on the same or similar terms but the employer offered it on less favourable terms, or did not offer it, where there was reasonable expectation;24
The amendment explicitly incorporates section 186(1)(b)(ii) as a form of extended protection included in the wider meaning of 'dismissal' where the employee reasonably expected an offer of indefinite employment but the employer only offered it on less favourable terms or made no such offer where there was a reasonable expectation in the circumstances of the case.
South African labour legislation places no restriction on the duration of a fixed-term contract, whether it is the first of a series or the only fixed-term contract entered into by the same parties, or evaluates the reasonability of repeated renewals in terms of the total duration as well as the total number of fixed-term contracts between the same parties.25 Currently there is no law regulating the position of the employee who falls prey to repeated renewals of fixed-term contracts, where an objectively reasonable expectation in the circumstances existed for the reconstruction of the contract of limited duration into one of indefinite duration.26 It is therefore submitted that a need for protection beyond the parameters of section 186(1)(b) is apparent.27 Cheadle's argument28 "that the concept of regulated flexibility may be put to good use in extending protection to those who most need it" is supported.
2.3 The Employment Equity Act 55 of 199829
The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA) gives effect to section 9 of the Constitution. It promotes the achievement of equality in employment and prohibits both direct and indirect discrimination. The right to equality can be regarded as a cornerstone in the implementing of justice and in the protection of a person's dignity.30
The focus in this section of the investigation is therefore on the nexus between the concepts of equality and discrimination on the one hand and the continuous renewal of the contract of employment on the other hand, primarily where the purpose of employment would allow for a permanent position, but is avoided by the employer for reasons of financial gain and less restrictive legislative labour regulation.
It is important to distinguish between equality in the workplace (the same treatment for everyone) and the concept of equity (fairness in an employer's policies) when evaluating the process and outcome of restructuring employment contracts in the workplace, for example, whether the continued renewal of a fixed-term contract would be fair under the circumstances instead of a permanent position when justified and possible.31 Equity in the workplace is a prerequisite for equal opportunities (to compete equally with others) without regard to the general factors such as race, gender and disability (listed grounds in terms of section 6(1)). Another factor (an unlisted ground) that reflects equity in the arena of work is an employment policy that allows for a series of renewals of fixed-term contracts, depriving the employee of equal opportunities and the benefits of permanent employment, where such an appointment is indeed possible under the circumstances.32
One of the "two primary means"33 to achieve equity in the workplace is the elimination of unfair discrimination.34 Equity in the workplace optimises equal access to employment opportunities to every employee by means of a process and an ultimate outcome as reflected in an employer's policy on the renewal of fixed-term contracts.35 All employers must act (in accordance with section 5) to endorse equal opportunities in the workplace in fairness to both the employer and the employee.
The key factor and prerequisite to unfair discrimination connected to the sixteen listed grounds in section 6(1) is differentiation (see the next page for the listed grounds). Differentiation in the workplace is a neutral term "constituting a difference between or in" something;36 for example, a difference in the salary and the exclusion of benefits afforded to fixed-term employees in terms of the employer's policy, compared with those of permanent employees who render the same service. However, an employer may have good reasons for treating fixed-term employees differently. For example, the purpose of such an appointment may justify differentiation if the employee agreed to and preferred employment for the purpose of a specific project or a certain period, instead of a commitment for an indefinite period. Consequently, differentiation would therefore be fair to both parties. Discrimination, on the other hand, is not prohibited unless it is unfair and linked with the abovementioned listed grounds.37
Section 6(1) of the EEA contains a list of grounds (not a closed list) on the basis of which unfair discrimination is prohibited:
No person may unfairly discriminate, directly or indirectly against an employee, in any employment policy or practice, on one or more grounds, including [emphasis added] race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, family responsibility, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, HIV status, conscience, belief, political opinion, culture, language and birth.
The issue of unfair discrimination becomes prominent in the context of fixed-term contracts when the same fixed-term employment relationship is repeatedly renewed for years, as opposed to an offer of permanent employment, where such an appointment is feasible to both parties.38 Fixed-term employees are a vulnerable species. They are susceptible to indirect39 unfair discrimination in respect of employment conditions, benefits and remuneration, reflecting less favourable terms and conditions compared with those of permanently employed comparable employees, unless such differentiation is justifiable on objective grounds.40
The crucial question is whether the above list of grounds on which discrimination is prohibited is or is not exhaustive. The wording of section 6(1) contains the word "including" immediately before the listed grounds. This indicates that a "possibility exists" that unfair discrimination can occur on grounds not listed in section 6(1).41
The approach to unfair discrimination (based on the distinction between differentiation and discrimination, whether unfair or not) was clarified by the court in Middleton v Industrial Chemical Carriers (Pty) Ltd.42 If it is established that differentiation occurred on an unlisted ground (not found in section 6(1)), the existence or not of discrimination will objectively depend on whether or not the differentiation on an unlisted ground (for example the "employment status" of fixed-term employees linked to the unreasonable renewals of their fixed-term contracts) had the potential to impact negatively on the "fundamental human dignity" of that person as a human being. If the answer to this question is yes, then the court will establish discrimination. If the answer is no, the court must consider if the differentiation affected him or her "adversely in a comparably serious manner".43 Only if the answer to both questions is "yes" could unfair discrimination be established on an unlisted ground.
It is therefore submitted that equity in the workplace is also connected to a fixed-term policy.44 The application of fairness should be demonstrated in the number of renewals of an employee's fixed-term contract. These are the cases where a reasonable expectation has been created by the employer that the service of an employee is valuable and can be accommodated in an indefinite employment relationship to serve the interests of both parties. The nature of a temporary relationship and the contract of employment should therefore be adapted (where feasible for both parties) in order to afford an employee a decent salary similar to that of employees in indefinite contracts, who enjoy a pension fund, a medical fund, employment security and human dignity, as well as the possibility of promotions and salary increases.
It could be considered as controversial to include "employment status" as an unlisted ground if regarded as analogous to the listed grounds, to form the basis for a claim of indirect unfair discrimination. "Employment status" as an unlisted ground could lie at the heart of an employment policy or practice if it is linked to the unreasonable renewal of an employee's fixed-term contract through a series of fixed-term contracts, merely to exclude the employee from the benefits of employment of indefinite nature. Although such a policy does not necessarily distinguish explicitly between people on the basis of any unprohibited ground like sex or race, it could nonetheless have a discriminatory effect if it excludes fixed-term employees from certain employment benefits purely on the basis of their employment status. If such an exclusion should discriminate against the employee for an unacceptable reason, for example to exclude fixed-term employees from employment benefits and protection or from equal remuneration for the sole benefit of the employer, then such an exclusion could be regarded as unfair discrimination. This does not apply to an employer who could have a very good reason to treat fixed-term employees differently from comparable employees on indefinite contracts. In classifying discrimination as unfair the employer's intention is irrelevant. Where fixed-term employees do the same work and work the same hours as full-time employees and receive less favourable treatment based on their "employment status", in the absence of no legal justification the discrimination becomes unfair.
2.4 Common-law principles regulating the fixed-term contract
Although the common-law position of the fixed-term contract was superseded by section 186(1)(b) of the LRA, the employer cannot entirely rely on an automatic termination of the fixed-term contract as decided by the parties if the employer has created a reasonable expectation of a tacit renewal at common law, allowing the employee to believe that the employment relationship might extend for a further term, albeit temporarily.45
Common-law principles regulating the contract of employment differ from other contracts with good reason.46 At common law, a fixed-term contract of employment terminates automatically:47
(a) when the reason(s) representing the preference for this kind of contract no longer exist(s);
(b) when the fixed time period has elapsed;
(c) when a specific task which initiated the agreement between the parties has been completed; or
(d) upon the expiry or beginning of a specific event.
Whether termination would indeed occur is a question that remains within the discretion of the employer. This kind of employment contract does not require notice of termination except where the parties have agreed that notice may be given. The employer can rely on the date set in the contract or on any relevant terms and conditions in the fixed-term contract providing for such termination. However, an employer cannot exclusively rely on common-law terms and conditions, based on consensus between the parties, when the very essence of their inclusion reflects the employer's intention and attempt to evade the protection afforded to employees in terms of a fair labour practice regime under the 1956 LRA and in terms of the spirit and purpose of the 1995 LRA.48 However, the converse is also true. The employee cannot rely on a subjective interpretation of the terms of the contract as a reflection of both parties' intention to convert the fixed-term contract into a contract of indefinite employment. The parol evidence-rule may be applied to prevent an employee from leading evidence in conflict with the terms of the written contract.49
The need to improve labour standards and to protect the human rights of employees remains a global concern and responsibility on a national and international level.
3 The International Labour Organisation
As a founder member and member state of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 1919, South Africa has ratified most of the eight core conventions of the ILO. The purpose of the ILO is to further social justice and to set international standards of human rights for labour.50
Two of the core instruments, the Termination of Employment Convention No 158 of 1982 and the Termination of Employment Recommendation No 166 of 1982 (both instruments refer to the termination of employment at the initiative of the employer) require member states that have ratified the above convention to take the necessary steps to prevent abuse in terms of job security.51 Article 2(3) of the Convention and article 3(1)-(2) of the Recommendation require that member states should take "adequate safeguards" to protect employees against the consequences of entering into "fixed-term contracts" as a mechanism to evade statutory protection against unfair dismissal.52 The question that comes to mind is if South Africa has met its international obligation by implementing labour law principles to regulate the abuse of the fixed-term contract as other member countries under the European Commission have done, for example.53
The main focus of the ILO Informal Note54 is the need for "a balanced and comprehensive approach to address labour market flexibility which includes the possibility to redeploy employees and to adapt firms to new challenges".55 The "possible nexus between security and flexibility" has led to the innovative creation of the word "flexicurity", which refers to the link between "a conceptual framework and a policy strategy".56 In acknowledging current changes and challenges in the globalised world of labour, it has been argued that adaptability rather than flexibility is needed.57 The re-formation of labour brings about an attempt to enhance a new kind of "employment and social security", complementary to the "flexibility" of labour markets, the workplace and labour relations.58 One of the main goals of the ILO has been "security of work, especially vulnerability to unemployment and loss of income", which reflects on the international "quality of work".59
This article supports the view that these two concepts should function in a "complementary" manner as opposed to being placed in a category of their own, to optimise the maximum protection afforded to vulnerable employees engaged in terms of unfair successive fixed-term relationships.60 This brings to the fore the need to address the position of employees who find themselves in a fixed-term relationship with no security and even less flexibility within a protective framework, based on a reasonable expectation of limited renewals or where indefinite employment could materialise.61
The following examples from South African case law illustrate the dilemma of the fixed-term employee with a reasonable - and sometimes not so reasonable - expectation to be permanently employed, and thus the need for a regulated framework providing legal certainty and protection against abusive practices.
4 Recent judgments on the fixed-term contract
The primary focus of judgments in evaluating the reasonability and fairness of the fixed-term contract are based on the three main aspects of section 186(1)(b) of the LRA:
(a) whether the failure to renew a fixed-term contract constitute a dismissal;
(b) whether "on the same or similar terms" were included in the renewal; and
(c) whether the employee can prove that his/her de facto expectation of the renewal was indeed reasonable.
However, two significant questions are not addressed in section 186(1)(b) of the LRA, namely:
(a) the reasonableness of the successive renewals of a fixed-term contract where the employment relationship could have been "reconstructed"62 to one of indefinite employment in terms of a contract of indefinite duration; and
(b) whether a failure to change the nature of the employment relationship from a fixed-term relationship into an indefinite employment relationship, where a reasonable expectation by the employee was proved, would constitute a dismissal in terms of this section.
4.1 Wood v Nestle (SA) (Pty) Ltd 1996 17 ILJ 184 (IC)
The employee's reason for entering into a fixed-term contract was based on a special project, the employee assistance programme. The employer's personnel policy specified any continued extension of temporary contracts as an unfair labour practice, depriving temporary personnel of benefits allocated exclusively to permanent staff. Contrary to this policy, the employer had renewed Wood's fixed-term contract several times over a continued period of three years. The Industrial Court held that Wood had a legitimate expectation that her status would change because she was indeed led to believe that she would be considered for indefinite employment. The court held that the employer's refusal to engage in an indefinite contract of employment constituted an unfair labour practice (in terms of the previous position under the LRA of 1956) and awarded her compensation as if she had been in indefinite employment.63
4.2 Mediterranean Woollen Mills (Pty) Ltd v SACTWU 1998 19 ILJ 366 (LAC)
The importance of this case lies in the court's judgment on the effect of a disavowal clause which expressly stipulates that the employee fully understands that no reasonable expectation for the renewal of the fixed-term contract could arise from the nature of the contract. The court held that despite wording to the contrary, a reasonable expectation could arise during employment if assurances, existing practices and the conduct of an employer led an employee to believe that there was hope for a renewal, whether on a temporary or an indefinite basis.
4.3 Dierks v University of South Africa 1999 20 ILJ 1227 (LC)
The court emphasised the wording of the LRA section 186(1)(b) "on the same or similar terms" as the ground on which the employee must rely if a renewal of the contract is expected.64 Accordingly Dierks was precluded to rely on section 186(1)(b) as he claimed that he had been led to believe that he would be indefinitely appointed to the post he had previously held in terms of a series of fixed-term contracts. The court furthermore sought support for this view - which is generally accepted as incorrect - on the view that the "residual unfair labour practice" definition constituted a remedy for employees on fixed-term contracts based on their claim for indefinite employment.
The same view was incorrectly adopted by the court in Auf der Heyde v University of Cape Town,65 dissented from in McInnes v Technikon Natal discussed below, which is submitted to be the preferred view, but adopted in SA Rugby(Pty) Ltd v CCMA.66 The issue therefore remains moot and open to debate.
4.4 Auf der Heyde v University of Cape Town 2000 21 ILJ 1758 (LC)
In this case the court addressed the issue of a dismissal in terms of section 186(1)(b) based on the employer's refusal to renew the applicant's fixed-term contract or to appoint the applicant in an indefinite position for which the applicant applied. The court incorrectly adopted the same approach as in Dierks, stating that the applicant had had a reasonable expectation that his contract would be renewed (albeit not through a series of fixed-term contracts between the same employee and employer), and therefore stated that the applicant was dismissed.
4.5 McInnes v Technikon Natal 2000 21 ILJ 1138 (LC)
The applicant had been employed in terms of two successive fixed-term contracts until the renewal of a temporary post to one of indefinite duration. The applicant reasonably believed (had an expectation) that she would be appointed into the new position as she was the selection committee's preferred choice. However, the decision to appoint the applicant was overturned due to the respondent's affirmative action policy. The court adopted a two-stage approach to establish whether the applicant's subjective expectation was reasonable, and established that the applicant had a reasonable expectation of an indefinite appointment and that she was unfairly dismissed based on the employer's affirmative action policy.
4.6 SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1041 (LC)
The applicants were appointed for the purpose of the 2003 World Cup tournament, after which their contracts expired. The court held that remedies are only available to employees who subjectively relied on a reasonable expectation created by the employer for the renewal of a fixed-term contract, provided that the expectation has an objective basis. As this tournament takes place only every fourth year, their expectation of an indefinite appointment after the World Cup tournament was not so reasonable, as was their claim based on a dismissal. Their contract simply expired after the tournament.67
4.7 Yebe v University of KZN 2007 28 ILJ 490 (CCMA)
The fixed-term contract of this employee was renewed 20 times over a period of approximately four and a half years using 28 fixed-term employment contracts, whilst the permanent post which he could have filled remained vacant for five years.68 The employee rendered the same service as two permanent employees on the same campus would have done during the extended period of time. During this period the employee successfully upgraded his skills through various courses at the University of Kwazulu-Natal. The court held that this is a clear example where the series of renewals created a reasonable expectation that the employment relationship would be renewed. Consequently the court found that the employer's failure to renew the employment relationship was an unfair dismissal.
4.8 Geldenhuys and University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA)
The applicant (a part-time lecturer) was appointed at the university on a series of fixed-term contracts before she applied for a permanent position as lecturer. Although her application was unsuccessful, she was offered an additional fixed-term contract on improved terms. She claimed a dismissal in terms of section 186(1)(b) of the LRA, contending that she had a reasonable expectation of permanent appointment and that the employer's failure to appoint her constituted a dismissal. The commissioner acknowledged the Labour Court's division on the matter of whether or not an employee on a fixed-term contract can claim dismissal relying on section 186(1)(b). The judgment illustrated that the ambit of this section is wide enough to accommodate the frustration of an employee's expectation of permanent employment as a dismissal, provided that the expectation is objectively reasonable.69 The matter was referred for arbitration on a point in limine. The employer relied on a dismissal based on the refusal to renew a fixed-term contract on the same or similar terms, while the applicant relied on a reasonable expectation of indefinite employment created by the employer during her appointment as a lecturer in terms of a series of fixed-term contracts.
4.9 Nobubele v Kujawa 2008 29 ILJ 2986 (LC)
The applicant had been employed on a fixed-term contract by an employer whose organisation depended on fixed-term grant agreements. The employee was suspended pending an investigation into misconduct when she received notice that her contract would not be renewed. After the termination of the fixed-term contract, the applicant claimed that she had been "dismissed due to [novation]70 of her permanent appointment" at that stage, or in the alternative that she had had a reasonable expectation of a renewal of the fixed-term contract. The court held that no reasonable expectation could exist due to the temporary nature of the employer's business and the employee's suspension based on serious misconduct. Employees cannot simultaneously base a claim on two expectations, one of the renewal of their fixed-term contract and the other of permanent employment.
4.10 Vorster v Rednave Enterprises CC t/a Cash Converters Queenswood 2009 30 ILJ 407 (LC)
The applicant in the Vorster case had been employed by the respondent in terms of two successive contracts, each of one month's duration. Her employment was extended for a further month. Ms Vorster claimed an unfair dismissal after having served "a three-month probation period". The respondent company denied the dismissal.
The court accepted that an expectation to renew the fixed-term contract may exist, even if the contract expressly stipulated that the employee should not expect any renewal(s). While the challenging question whether an employee on a fixed-term contract can rely on section 186(1)(b) when claiming dismissal based on the reasonable expectation of indefinite employment remains moot, the court held that Vorster had proved an objectively reasonable expectation of renewal, based on the promise that she would be considered for permanent employment after the three-month probation period. She had therefore been dismissed.
This raises the question whether the LRA would pass the test for flexibility to include this labour question under section 186(1)(b), fitting comfortably under the meaning of dismissal or within section 186(2)(a), provided that the closed list of unfair labour practices be amended. It is suggested that an amendment to the LRA could extend the necessary rights to fixed-term employees who are exploited in terms of a series of fixed-term contracts by placing a limit on the maximum number of successive contracts.
5 Legal comparisons and the effect of section 39 of the Constitution on the interpretation and development of the right to a fair labour practice
Section 39 of the Constitution places an obligation on a court, tribunal or forum to promote the values underlying an open and democratic society, based on human dignity, equality and freedom to consider international law when interpreting the Bill of Rights. Foreign law may be considered. The spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights must be promoted by every court, tribunal and forum when interpreting any legislation and when developing the common law or customary law. Section 233 of the Constitution furthermore obliges "every court" when interpreting any legislation to prefer "any reasonable interpretation of the legislation that is consistent with international law over any alternative interpretation that is consistent with international law".
Pursuant to the ILO Informal Note, the South African Labour Court regarded Convention 158 as an "important and influential point of reference in the interpretation and application of the [LRA]" despite the fact that South Africa has no obligation to do so in terms of the ratification of the Convention.71 Although South Africa has not ratified Convention 15872 the Labour Court has recognised the importance of additional documents compiled by experts as an important aid in the interpretation of the LRA and the Labour Code.73 The Convention has therefore been applied by the courts as a model of:
(a) norms of direct application in the legal systems;
(b) an aid to interpretation of national legislation;
(c) an instrument to strengthen the application of national law; and/or
(iv) as a source of equity.74
Employment protection legislation with regard to the fixed-term contract has been applied by various countries to "mitigate discrimination against vulnerable categories of workers".75 It furthermore ensures job stability and improved productivity through increased advanced enterprise adaptation, continuous training and technological progress.76
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) 2006 overview on the empirical evidence, it is suggested that a general agreement on the effect of employment protective legislation (EPL) "is far from reached".77 For example, India has reported a negative impact of EPL on job security and reduced workers' welfare while EPL in Latin America had no "significant effect on unemployment and employment".78 However, a research report released in Bonn reported EPL to have a positive effect on employment performances in Germany.79 The OECD's report on policy recommendations regarding the effect of EPL on economic and labour market outcomes should accordingly be observed with "great caution" due to its "ambiguous empirical results".80
Table 1 below affords an international perspective on the legal position and protection related to restrictions on the maximum number of repeated fixed-term contracts afforded to employees in various countries.
6 Conclusion
In the words of Hepple: "Most governments and policy makers, however, are neither pure free trade advocates nor pure protectionists. They do not think there is a simple choice between more jobs (free trade) and better jobs (protection)."82 They attempt to establish a balance between "free trade and investment on the one hand and employment growth and the [upliftment] of social and labour standards, on the other hand".83 When considering labour law reforms, "any new phase of labour law reform should be comprehensive and not limited to a specific objective".84
It is in the interest of labour law, which as its core is primarily interested in the protection of labour rights and justice, to ensure that everyone is entitled to a fair labour practice. It is submitted that the first step in the direction of legal protection85 against the exploitation of employees with fixed-term contracts would be to acknowledge the need for legal certainty. There is a definitive need for an objective, unbiased legal approach in terms of a legal code that regulates the renewal of fixed-term contracts and the reasonableness of a person's expectation to be indefinitely employed. Employers should therefore not be allowed to employ employees on a series of fixed-term contracts if the purpose of the continuous renewals is to avoid filling an employment vacancy of an indefinite nature where the possibility exists and where the engagement in a series of fixed-term renewals deprive employees from their dignity and from the benefits of employment of indefinite nature such as promotions, training and employment security. It is therefore submitted that a Code of Good Practice: Restriction on the Renewal of Fixed-term Contracts, be implemented as a guideline on the renewal of fixed-term contracts in addition to an amendment of section 186(1)(b) of the LRA of 1995.86
The position in the Netherlands can serve as a guideline where there are no restrictions on valid cases.87 Three successive fixed-term contract renewals arepermitted by law, provided the total cumulated period does not exceed three years. Afourth renewal or employment exceeding three years in total shall automaticallychange the fixed-term contract into a contract of indefinite duration. However, thenumber of renewals or the total duration of employment on a fixed-term basis can beextended by a collective agreement. No limit is placed on the duration of the firstfixed-term contract although three years remain the limit of the total duration ofemployment on fixed-term contracts.88
The words of Nugent JA touch the core of the matter:89
The freedom to engage in productive work - even where that is not required in order to survive - is indeed an important component of human dignity for mankind is pre-eminently a social species with an instinct for meaningful association. Self-esteem and the sense of self-worth - the fulfilment of what it is to be human - is (sic) most often bound up with being accepted as socially useful.
Allen RE Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English 8th ed (Clarendon Press Oxford 1991) [ Links ]
Cheadle H "Regulated flexibility: Revisiting the LRA and the BCEA" (2006) 27 ILJ 663-704 [ Links ]
Currie I and De Waal J The Bill of Rights Handbook 5th ed (Juta Cape Town 2005) [ Links ]
Grogan J et al Juta's Annual Labour Law Up Date (Juta Cape Town 2009) [ Links ]
Grogan J Workplace Law 10th ed (Juta Cape Town 2009) [ Links ]
Hendrickx, F (ed) Flexicurity and the Lisbon Agenda: a Cross-disciplinary Reflection (Antwerp Intersentia 2008) [ Links ]
Hepple B Labour Law and Global Trade (Hart Oxford 2005) [ Links ]
Jordaan B, Kalula E and Strydom E (eds) Understanding the Employment Equity Act (Juta Cape Town 2009) [ Links ]
Olivier M "Legal constraints on the termination of fixed-term contracts of employment: An enquiry into recent developments" 1996 ILJ 1001-1040 [ Links ]
Rodgers G et al The ILO and the Quest for Social Justice, 1919-2009 (ILO Geneva 2009) [ Links ]
Van der Merwe S et al Contract: General Principles (Juta Landsdowne 2007) [ Links ]
Van Niekerk A et al Law@Work (LexisNexis Butterworths Durban 2008) [ Links ]
Register of court cases
Auf der Heyde v University of Cape Town 2000 21 ILJ 1758 (LC) [ Links ]
Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1644 (LC) [ Links ]
Biggs v Rand Water 2003 24 ILJ 1957 (LC) [ Links ]
Dierks v University of South Africa 1999 20 ILJ 1227 (LC) [ Links ]
Geldenhuys and University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA) [ Links ]
Leonard Dingler Employee Representative Council v Leonard [ Links ]
Dingler (Pty) Ltd 1998 19 ILJ 285 (LC) [ Links ]
McInnes v Technikon Natal 2000 21 ILJ 1138 (LC) [ Links ]
Mediteranean Woolen Mills (Pty) Ltd v SACTWU 1998 19 ILJ 731 (L) [ Links ]
Middleton v Industrial Chemical Carriers (Pty) Ltd 2001 22 ILJ 472 (LC) [ Links ]
Minister of Home Affairs v Watchenuka 2004 4 SA 326 (SCA) [ Links ]
NEHAWU v University of Cape Town 2003 24 ILJ 95 (CC) [ Links ]
Nobubele v Kujawa NO 2008 29 ILJ 2986 (LC) [ Links ]
Pretorius v Sasol Polymers [2008] 1 BALR 10 (NBCCI) [ Links ]
SACTWU v Mediterranean Wooden Mills (Pty) Ltd 1995 16 ILJ 366 (LAC) [ Links ]
SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1041 (LC) [ Links ]
Stocje v University of KZN (Natal) [2007] 3 BLLR 493 (LC) [ Links ]
Swissport (Pty) Ltd v Smith NO 2003 24 ILJ 618 (LC) [ Links ]
Vorster v Rednave Enterprises CC t/a Cash Converters Queenswood 2009 30 ILJ 407 (LC) [ Links ]
Wood v Nestle (SA) (Pty) Ltd 1996 17 ILJ 184 (IC) [ Links ]
Yebe v University of KZN (Durban) 2007 28 ILJ 490 (CCMA) [ Links ]
Register of legislation
Termination of Employment Convention 1982 (No 158) [ Links ]
Termination of Employment Recommendation 1982 (No 166) [ Links ]
Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work) Act 29 of 2003 [ Links ]
South Africa
Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 [ Links ]
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 [ Links ]
Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 [ Links ]
Labour Relations Act 28 of 1956 [ Links ]
Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 [ Links ]
Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 [ Links ]
Register of government publications
Gen N 112 in GG 33873 of 17 December 2010 (Draft Labour Relations Amendment Bill, 2010) [ Links ]
Register of internet sources
CESifo 2003 Regulation of Fixed-term Contracts http://www.cesifo-group.de/portal/page/portal/DICE_Content/LABOUR_MARKET_AND_MIGRATI ON/LABOUR_MARKET/LM080_EMPLOYMENT_PROTECTION_LABOUR_ST ANDARDS/reg-fix-term-contr.pdf [date of use 20 Apr 2010]
ILO 2008 Informal background note for the participants to consultations on Convention No 158 and Recommendation No 166 http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@normes/documents/meet ingdocument/wcms_100768.pdf [date of use 8 Apr 2010]
UEA 2002 Code of Practice on Fixed Term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002 Compliance Guide for Heads of Schools, Divisional Heads and Line Managers http://www.uea.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.81754!fixed-term-employees.pdf.html [date of use 20 Apr 2010]
List of abbreviations
|Butterworth Arbitration Labour Reports
|Basic Conditions of Employment Act
|Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration
|CESifo DICE
|Centre for Economic Studies and information institute for economic Studies. CESifo is the trade name used by IFO,CES & CESifo GmbH to reflect their international activities. The centre, institute and the society forms a unique economic research group in Europe combining the theoretically orientated economic research of the university with the empirical work of a leading Economic Research Institute and places this combination in an international environment.
|Employment Equity Act
|Employment protective legislation
|Fixed-term contract
|Industrial Court
|Industrial Law Journal
|International Labour Organisation
|Labour Court
|Labour Appeal Court
|Labour Relations Act
|Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
|South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union
|Supreme Court of Appeal
|University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
1 See Cheadle 2006 ILJ 664 para 6.
2 Grogan Workplace Law 150 reflects on several factors to be considered when evaluating the conduct of the employer as giving rise to the employee's reasonable expectation of future renewals or changing the employment relationship to permanent employment.
3 See the facts of Yebe v University of KZN 2007 28 ILJ 490 (CCMA) para 4.5. The court held that the series of renewals in this case created a reasonable expectation that the employment relationship would be renewed, and the employer's failure to renew the employment relationship proved to be a dismissal.
4 See 2.2 below re ss 185 and 186(2) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 in terms of the rights linked to an unfair labour practice. Biggs v Rand Water 2003 24 ILJ 1957 (LC) 1961A-B stated: "Section 186(1)(b) was included in the LRA to prevent the unfair practice of keeping an employee on a temporary basis without employment security until it suits an employer to dismiss such an employee without the unpleasant obligations imposed on employers by the LRA in respect of permanent employees."
5 See fn 3.
6 See s 23(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, hereafter the Constitution. This concept of fair labour practices correlates with the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) concept of and quest for the creation of "decent work" for all. See para 3 below on the ILO.
7 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
8 See s 185(a) and (b) of the LRA regarding the "right [of every employee] not to be unfairly dismissed or subjected to an unfair labour practice", as well as s 2 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 and s 9 of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.
9 Cheadle 2006 ILJ 663 para 1 reflects on the impact of "labour reforms in the 1990s", specifically "on those aspects of the reforms that were intended but improperly realised in practice". Lawfulness and fairness are the two crucial elements that hold the balance to labour justice, however difficult to put into practice.
10 S 39(2) of the Constitution reflects on the courts' obligation to develop common-law principles and to promote the spirits and objects of the Bill of Rights in the interpretation of legislation.
11 See NEHAWU v University of Cape Town 2003 24 ILJ 95 (CC) para 39.
12 For an example of detailed employer guidelines and statutory protection to employees re the justification of using fixed-term contracts, consult the Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work) Act 29 of 2003 of Ireland.
13 S10ofthe Constitution confirms that "everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected".
14 S 9(1) of the Constitution.
15 S 9(3) and 9(5) of the Constitution state that discrimination on any listed ground is unfair unless it is established that the discrimination is fair.
16 Cheadle 2006 ILJ 664 para 6.
17 Grogan Workplace Law 148 reflects on s 186(1)(b) of the LRA as a form of dismissal chosen by the legislator to protect employees against employers who plan to keep their employees "indefinitely on fixed-term contracts and terminating at will without fair procedures and without good reason".
18 See Wood v Nestle SA (Pty) Ltd 1996 17 ILJ 184 (IC) where the employer's own personnel policy classified the repeated extension of a fixed-term contract as an "unfair labour practice".
19 For a detailed discussion of the legal constraints on the termination of the fixed-term contract, see Olivier 1996 ILJ 1001-1040.
20 See Wood v Nestle SA (Pty) Ltd 1996 17 ILJ 184 (IC) 185F-I, 189D-F, 190I-19IB, and 191D.
21 In Dierks v University of South Africa 1999 20 ILJ 1227 (LC) 1248E Oosthuizen AJ concluded that "an entitlement to permanent employment cannot be based simply on the reasonable expectation of s 186(b), ie an applicant cannot rely on an interpretation by implication or 'common sense'. It would require a specific statutory provision to that effect, particularly against the background outlined above". The ruling in Dierks was upheld by Auf der Heyde v University of Cape Town 2000 21 ILJ 1758 (LC) and SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1041 (LC). Although the judgment was overruled on appeal, the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) did not deal with that specific point. The contrary view was expressed in McInnes v Technicon Natal 2000 21 ILJ 1138 (LC) and in Geldenhuys v University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA). See fn 23.
22 In Geldenhuys and University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA) Commissioner Jansen van Vuuren found the Labour Court divided on the issue of a dismissal i.t.o. s 186(1)(b) where the claim is based on an expectation of indefinite employment after the lapse of a fixed-term relationship. As the LAC had not at the time taken a stance on this issue, the Commissioner preferred a wide interpretation on the matter as "there seems to be no reason or logic or law why an expectation of permanent employment should not provide a ground for a claim of dismissal under this provision".
23 GG no 33873 3 released on 17 Dec 2010.
24 Words underlined indicate insertions in existing enactments.
25 See Table 1 at par 5 below.
26 Cheadle 2006 ILJ 664 holds a view of particular relevance here namely: "Rather than intensifying regulation in favour of those who least need it, labour law should be setting its sights on the extension of protection to those who most need it."
27 As reflected by Currie and De Waal Bill of Rights Handbook 23, "one of the most important principles of our law is expressed by the maximum ubi ius ibi remedium - where there is a right there is a remedy". The LRA does not regulate or provide a remedy for an infringement of the right to a "fair labour practice" or an "unfair dismissal" in terms of a refusal to appoint an employee permanently where the employee was led to believe that at some stage the benefits and status of a permanent relationship would be granted to the employee in terms of a permanent appointment. See fn 12.
28 Cheadle 2006 ILJ 664 para 3.
29 Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.
30 S 1 of the Constitution.
31 Jordaan, Kalula and Strydom (eds) Understanding the EEA 6.
32 See Geldenhuys and University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA), and Yebe v University of KZN 2007 28 ILJ 490 (CCMA).
33 Jordaan, Kalula and Strydom (eds) Understanding the EEA 4.
34 Ch 2 of the EEA. See fn 18 for an example of an employer who did not adhere to his ownpersonnel policy which afforded protection to the fixed-term employee regarding repeatedrenewals.
35 Jordaan, Kalula and Strydom (eds) Understanding the EEA 7.
36 Allen Concise Oxford Dictionary 325.
37 The Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000 prohibits unfair discrimination in spheres of life other than employment.
38 See Geldenhuys and University of Pretoria 2008 29 ILJ 1772 (CCMA) 4.8.
39 The EEA does not define indirect discrimination. However, the courts have held that it manifests in criteria applied by the employer that appear to be neutral but disproportionately affect a specific group resulting in harmful and negative results which are not justifiable. The criteria could be the full-or part-time status of the employee. In this regard see Leonard Dingler Employee Representative Council v Leonard Dingler (Pty) Ltd 1998 19 ILJ 285 (LC) 298G.
40 UEA 2002 www.uea.ac.uk. See also Wood v Nestle SA (Pty) Ltd 1996 17 ILJ 184 (IC) 185I and 191G regarding less favourable terms of fixed-term employees compared with the terms offered to employees on indefinite contracts.
41 Jordaan, Kalula and Strydom (eds) Understanding the EEA 28. The list is therefore not exhaustive.
42 Middleton v Industrial Chemical Carriers (Pty) Ltd 2001 22 ILJ 472 (LC). See the Stocje v University of KZN [2007] 3 BLLR 493 (LC) case for an example of discrimination on unlisted and listed grounds at 4.4.
43 Jordaan, Kalula and Strydom (eds) Understanding the EEA 62.
44 In Pretorius v Sasol Polymers [2008] 1 BALR 10 (NBCCI) it was established that the employer's policy gave the fixed-term employee a reasonable expectation that her contract would be renewed. The policy allowed that a fixed-term employee, who occupied a permanent post, could fill a permanent post with management's approval. The employer's failure to give the employee the permanent post after management's approval constituted an unfair dismissal and her reinstatement was ordered.
45 Where the employer wants to terminate the fixed-term contract prematurely, the common law requires good cause to ensure that the employer avoids breach of contract. See Grogan Workplace Law 149.
46 For a detailed discussion on common-law principles re estoppel, misrepresentation and tacit terms in general, see Van der Merwe et al Contract: General Principles 32, 105, 278, and 279.
47 See Olivier 1996 ILJ 1010-1014.
48 The definition of an "unfair labour practice" in s 1 of the 1956 LRA was extremely wide, defining an "unfair labour practice" as "any labour practice" which constitutes an "unfair labour practice" in the opinion of the IC. In SACTWU v Mediterranean Wooden Mills (Pty) Ltd 1995 16 ILJ 366 (LAC) 367 the court held that the "role of the Industrial Court [IC] is to ensure that principles of fairness, and not strictly rules of law, are applied in the relationship between employer and employee". See s 1 of the 1995 LRA.
49 See Swissport (Pty) Ltd v Smith NO 2003 24 ILJ 618 (LC).
50 See Van Niekerk et al Law@Work 22 for a summary of the core conventions and Van Niekerk et al Law@Work 26 for a summary of the application of international labour standards in South African law.
51 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org. "This means that domestic policy and practice must comply with the ILO constitution and the ratified conventions" - see Cheadle 2006 ILJ 666 para 14.
52 See ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 4.
53 See Olivier 1996 ILJ 1024 and the detailed summary of EU member countries that protects employees at 16.
54 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org.
55 Van Niekerk et al Law@Work 23.
56 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Notes 22 and 23. A discussion on flexicurity does not fall within the ambit of this article. For a detailed discussion consult Hendrickx Flexicurity.
57 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 23.
58 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 23 fn 84.
59 Rodgers et al ILO and the Quest for Social Justice 94 and 95.
60 Rodgers et al ILO and the Quest for Social Justice 24.
61 See Table 1 at par 5 below regarding the regulation of fixed-term contracts in twenty-two countries.
62 Refer to 4.1 above. The IC confirmed the judgment in SACTWU v Mediterranean Woollen Mills(Pty) Ltd (1995) 16 ILJ 366(LAC) that "the expiration of the [fixed-term] contract does not mean that labour courts are prevented from looking at the context in which the contract was entered into" [thus considering the reasons why the parties entered into the fixed-term contract].
63 "[T]he weight to be attached to the practice probably increases in proportion to the number of successive contracts concluded by the parties". See Grogan Workplace Law 150 on the evaluation of the practice of repeated renewals of fixed-term contracts.
64 Dierks v University of South Africa 1999 20 ILJ 1227 (LC) 1146F-G.
65 Auf der Heyde v University of Cape Town 2000 21 ILJ 1758 (LC).
66 SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1041 (LC).
67 SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1041 (LC) at 1042.
68 Yebe v University of KZN 2007 28 ILJ 490 (CCMA) 505 67G.
69 For more details on the facts of the case, see fn 23.
70 See Grogan in Juta's Annual Labour Law Update at 4 where it is mentioned that the term novation is occasionally relied on in the context of employment law "to support a claim that a fixed-term contract has transmuted into a permanent contract".
71 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 19 with reference to the judgment in Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1644 (LC).
72 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 19.
73 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 19. The need to recognise and address the tension between the interests of the employer and the employee in the case of an unfair dismissal was addressed in Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped v CCMA 2006 27 ILJ 1644 (LC) 1646. Although for reasons not relating to a fixed-term contract, the importance of international labour standards which give context to the constitutional right to fair labour practices and the right not to be unfairly dismissed in s 185 of the LRA was stated by the court.
74 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 20.
75 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 22.
76 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 22.
77 See fn 78 of ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 22.
78 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 23.
79 See fn 81 of ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 23.
80 ILO 2008 www.ilo.org Note 23.
81 CESifo DICE is described in the List of Abbreviations below. See for the Regulation of Fixed Term Contracts, 2003 CESifo 2003 www.cesifo-group.de
82 Hepple Labour Law 2.
83 Hepple Labour Law 2.
84 Cheadle 2006 ILJ 666 para 13.
85 As stated by Rodgers et al ILO and the Quest for Social Justice 94-95: "'Better quality work' is agoal that can be achieved inter alia 'by regulating and legislating to ensure that minimumstandards are followed by all; making better work more productive, and so eliminating the trade-off, if there is one, between conditions of work and competitiveness appealing to social solidarityand ethical principles. [T]he goal for better quality work is common. This is a fundamental 'ILOidea'."
86 See para 2.2 on s 186(1)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Labour Relations Amendment Bill of 2010.
87 "Valid" in this sense refers to the number of renewals allowed in terms of any applicable law regulating the renewal of fixed-term contracts in that specific country or area of the labour market.
88 Recent developments on the regulation of fixed-term contracts in developing areas such as the Middle East and North African (MENA) region fell outside the scope of this article. Consideration is however currently being given to further research by the author on employment protection between developed and developing countries.
89 Minister of Home Affairs v Watchenuka 2004 4 SA 326 (SCA) para 27.


text:
Index investing fans are always dumping on active managers, trotting out inconvenient facts like \"most managers fail to beat their benchmarks.\"
A new study has one nice thing to say about active managers: They have become more skillful over time.
But the study finds this increased skillfulness gets overwhelmed by the active mutual-fund industry\'s growth since 1979.
Here\'s an excerpt from the study, produced by the University of Chicago\'s Lubos Pastor and the University of Pennsylvania\'s Robert Stambaugh and Lucian Taylor:
\"We find that the active management industry has become more skilled over time. Despite this rise in skill, average fund performance has failed to improve. These two facts can be reconciled by industry-level decreasing returns to scale: the observed steady growth in industry size has impeded funds' performance despite their improving skill.\"
So why does the industry\'s greater size appear to weigh on its overall performance? All that competition among active managers is a negative, the study suggests.
\"We argue that a larger industry features more competition among active funds, which impedes the funds\' performance,\" the authors write. They add that another study found active funds perform better outside the U.S., especially in emerging markets, where managers are likely to face less competition.
The average active fund\'s return would have been 50 basis points higher per month in 2011, if the industry had stayed at its same size as in 1979, according to the authors\' calculations.
The study also has something to say about younger funds. Namely, they\'re better — at first.
\"New funds entering the industry tend to be more skilled than the incumbent funds, perhaps due to better education or greater command of new technology,\" the authors write.
\"As these funds grow older, though, their performance suffers as a result of the continued growth in industry size, which is associated with steady arrival of skilled competition.\"
You can find the entire study here. The study was last revised this week, but first posted in September.
You also can go here to get S&P Dow Jones Indices\' latest study on how active managers have been faring. It details how most have underperformed their benchmarks over the past three- and five-year periods.
–Victor Reklaitis
Follow Vic on Twitter @vicrek
Follow The Tell @thetellblog
More from MarketWatch:
30 reasons to fall in love with index funds
Fund managers can\'t beat index funds

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the leaders of Kiev's protest movement has been missing since January 22, 2014, Human Rights Watch said today [26 January 2014]. Dmitri Bulatov, 35, is the third protest activist who has disappeared in the past week. Human Rights Watch called on Ukrainian authorities to urgently undertake a thorough investigation to locate him and ensure his safety and well-being.
"We are gravely concerned about Dmitri Bulatov's life and safety," said Yulia Gorbunova, Ukraine researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Bulatov is one of the leaders of the protest movement and had been threatened in recent weeks. There is every reason to believe his disappearance is related to his activism."
On January 23, police arbitrarily detained another activist – a volunteer for the protest movement's medical service – took all her personal belongings, and dumped her in a forest outside Kiev, sparking concern police could also be involved in Bulatov's disappearance. On January 21, unknown assailants kidnapped and beat two other prominent protest activists, Ihor Lutsenko and Yuri Verbitsky. The assailants released Lutsenko, who is being hospitalized for his injuries. Verbitsky's body was found on January 22.
Bulatov is one of the leaders of AutoMaidan, which is part of the protest movement on Kiev's Independence Square, known as Maidan. AutoMaidan organizes convoys of motorists who organised rallies and patrolled the city to protect protesters at Independence Square and other areas from pro-government provocateurs.
A lawyer representing Bulatov's family, Dmitri Yovdi, told Human Rights Watch that the last contact Bulatov's friends and family had from him was on January 23 at around 7 p.m. local time, when he told his wife he was going to a meeting. Another friend saw him last around 2 p.m. when he was leaving home, headed toward the outskirts of Kiev. Friends and relatives tried calling him until early hours of the next morning, when his cell phone number ceased working. His car is also missing.
On January 24, police broke up a convoy of AutoMaidan activists in their cars, smashing the vehicles and detaining 12 activists on suspicion of mass rioting charges; they were all remanded to pretrial custody by a court. Bulatov was not among those detained.
One of the AutoMaidan activists who spoke with Human Rights Watch said the activists, including Bulatov, had been receiving SMS threats for weeks, including messages such as "Do you want do die?" The other activist said that in recent weeks police wanted to question Bulatov as a witness to mass rioting.
Police had summoned Bulatov twice for questioning in connection with AutoMaidan activities. In December 2013, they wanted to question him regarding clashes on December 1, when AutoMaidan organized a motorists' rally in the area where many government buildings are located. They changed their minds several days later, when an amnesty law entered into force that covered protest-related actions.
On January 14, 2014, police questioned Bulatov as a witness to a protest that had taken place on January 10 and also about the December 1, 2013 clashes. No charges were pressed against him.
In a separate incident, on January 23, 2014, police detained Oleksandra Khailak, a 22-year-old female student who had been working in the protest movement's volunteer medical service, at Kiev's train station as she was headed home. According to the coordinator of the volunteer medical service, Oleg Musiy, police asked her to show her identity documents, and when she did, her National Resistance Headquarters' medical service pass fell out.
According to Musiy, police said, "Aha, you worked on Maidan?" and called for more police. They twisted her arms behind her back, put her in a civilian car, and took her to three different police stations, where no officials wanted to book her. They also confiscated her personal belongings, including her asthma inhaler. At one point the woman had an asthma attack, prompting the police to take her to a hospital.
Musiy told Human Rights Watch police eventually drove the woman to a forest outside Kiev, and left her there. They did not return her purse, identity documents, train ticket, and money, saying "You can go look for it at police stations."
After an hour of wandering in the area she was eventually able to find help.
"When police grab an activist and dump her in a forest, it adds to our fears that they might have done the same with Bulatov," Gorbunova said.
Ukrainian activist leader missing following SMS threats
One of the leaders of Kiev's protest movement has been missing since January 22, 2014, Human Rights Watch said today [26 January 2014]. Dmitri Bulatov, 35, is the third protest activist who has disappeared in the past week. Human Rights Watch called on Ukrainian authorities to urgently undertake a thorough investigation to locate him and ensure his safety and well-being.


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V8 V-Fusion Is A Harmony Of Fruit, Veggies And Green Tea
Camden, N.J.-based Campbell Soup Co. expands its innovative billion-dollar V8 brand with new V8 V-Fusion + Tea. These refreshing juice beverages contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and provide a combined serving of vegetables and fruit in each 8-oz. glass (¼ cup vegetables and ¼ cup of fruit), along with the antioxidants and cool, crisp taste of natural green tea -- all for 50 calories per serving.
Refreshing varieties, which meet the American Heart Assn.'s criteria to display its heart-check mark, include: Raspberry Green Tea, Pomegranate Green Tea and Pineapple Mango Green Tea.
"People love V8 V-Fusion beverages for their fruit flavor and the convenience of drinking their vegetables," says Dale Clemiss, vice president, beverage marketing, V8 beverages. "Now we're giving people a new reason to enjoy our beverages by introducing a juice beverage with a hint of natural green tea -- an increasingly popular light and nutritious beverage choice. The result is a unique combination of refreshing taste and nutrition you can't get from any other beverage on the market."
Suggested retail price for a 46-oz. bottle is $3.99.


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All items > Knives > Out The Front Knives > Paragon (OTF) > Paragon Para-X
- Overall Length:8.75"
- Blade Length:3.50"
- Blade Thickness:0.12"
- Blade Material:CPM-S30V
- Blade Style:Clip Point
- Blade Grind:Flat
- Finish:Black
- Edge Type:Serrated
- Handle Length:5.25"
- Handle Thickness:0.52"
- Handle Material:Aluminum
- Color:Black
- Weight:4.10 oz.
- User:Right Hand
- Pocket Clip:Tip-Down
- Knife Type:Single-Action OTF Automatic
- Opener:Push Button
- Brand:Paragon
- Model:PARA-X
- Country of Origin:USA
- Best Use:Tactical
- Product Type:Knife
The ATKO 10- Another resurrected design from the boys at Asheville Steel. Just push the button and the knife fires out the front of the handle. To retract the blade just press the button in and use the retracing lever to pull the blade back in. This out the front knife features a sturdy black anodized T6 aluminum handle. The S30V black finished blade features a striking clip point design with extra long stretch of serrations on the blade. The blade and locks up nice and tight. The ATKO 10 has a black coated pocket clip for easy carry (tip down) and a safety to ensure the knife is not fired by mistake. Made in the USA & new in box.


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Table 1 shows monthly high and low gas supply charges over the past 5 heating seasons. Past prices are not necessarily an indication of future gas prices. This information is subject to revision and Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission rulings.
Heating Season
High Per Therm
Low Per Therm
Table 2 shows historical heating season conditions (Nov-Mar) compared to "normal" weather.
% Warmer or Colder Than Normal
3% Warmer
5% Colder
4% Colder
5% Warmer
6% Warmer
Printable Format - DependaBill Terms and Conditions
NIPSCO's DependaBill program is a 12-month plan that prevents changes in your gas bill, including changes due to gas price and weather fluctuations. A monthly program fee is included in this service and covers the expenses necessary to lock in a gas price, calculate your amount, and guarantee your bill - with the DependaBill Program.
I. DependaBill Program Description -This is not meant to be a savings program. The Program guarantees a fixed monthly bill but cannot guarantee savings. In a warmer than normal year, or in a year when gas prices are lower than the fixed price calculated in the DependaBill program, you will likely pay considerably more under the DependaBill program than you would pay under the standard tariff. The DependaBill program, which includes a program fee, is locked in and no adjustments will be made during the program year unless the term length is significantly greater than or less than one year. (See "Term" below). The quote amount you have received is for a 12-month period specific to a service address and is not transferable to another customer or service address. Your quote amount does not include electric service or applicable sales tax. Your monthly bill will reflect sales tax as a separate line item. Customers who wish to cancel their enrollment must do so by calling 1-800-448-2026 within 10 days of enrollment in order to avoid termination fees. Table 1 shows monthly high and low gas prices including all commodity, distribution and delivery charges over the past several years. Table 2 shows historical heating season conditions (Nov-Mar) compared to "normal" weather. Weather data is provided by the National Weather Service regional weather stations. Please remember that past gas prices and past weather are not accurate predictors of future gas prices and weather.
II. Usage Requirements - As part of this program, you agree to use energy as you have in the past.
Increased gas use due to cold weather is expected and covered under this program. Since all consumers benefit when gas is not wasted, there is an energy conservation safeguard built into this program that assures there is no abuse. If you use 15% more cumulative non-weather related gas, you may be removed from the program and returned to a standard gas tariff. Termination fees outlined in Section IV apply to program removal for excessive non-weather related gas usage. No customer will be removed from the program for increasing non-weather related usage without prior notification by NIPSCO and the opportunity to modify their gas usage. Non-weather use could include such things as increasing your thermostat settings, adding gas appliances or increasing your living space.
III. Term -The DependaBill is a 12-month (i.e., 365-day) agreement. If the number of days that you are served on DependaBill during this term was much more or less than 365, your final bill will be adjusted to reflect the actual time that you received service on the program, based upon the average cost per day of your quote.
IV. Termination / Cancellation Fee - If you decide to end your enrollment in this 12-month program, you must contact us at 1-800-448-2026 within 10 days of enrollment in order to avoid termination fees described below. To avoid termination / cancellation fees, we simply ask that you:
If you do not complete a full 12-month term for one of the reasons listed above, NIPSCO will compare the amount you paid while on DependaBill program to an amount calculated by multiplying the actual gas consumed times the fixed price used to calculate your DependaBill. If the amount you paid while on DependaBill is greater, NIPSCO will refund the difference. If the amount you paid is less, you will owe the difference. Early termination will require you to pay $30 to cover administrative costs associated with early separation. In addition, customers with an average historical weather-normalized yearly gas consumption of less than 5,000 therms will be charged $10 per month for each month remaining in the program year to cover costs associated with the pre-purchase of gas contracts for the 12-month term. Customers with an average historical weather-normalized yearly gas consumption greater than 5,000 therms per year will be subject to the greater of a $10/month cancellation fee or a fee calculated using the following formula: The average historical gas use for the remaining month(s) in the contract term times the difference of the NYMEX gas price at contract termination versus the NYMEX gas price used to calculate the DependaBill program amount quote for all months remaining in the contract term. An average residential customer uses approximately 1,000 therms per year. The total cost to terminate your DependaBill program contract will never exceed 40 percent of your annual program amount. For example, a customer with a $600 annual DependaBill program ($50 monthly) will never pay more than $240 to exit the program.
V. Renewal - At the end of each 12-month DependaBill program year, your new DependaBill amount will be calculated based on your most recent 12-months usage patterns and the current gas prices. Your new DependaBill quote amount will be mailed to you at least 30 days prior to the start of a new 12-month period. Your enrollment will be renewed automatically, only if the monthly price to be paid under the DependaBill program is equal to, or lower than, the price paid in the previous year.
VI. Dispute Resolution - If a dispute arises concerning the DependaBill program consumers should contact NIPSCO Customer Service at 1-800-448-2026. If a resolution is not achieved, the consumer may contact the Consumer Affairs Division of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission at National City Center, 101 W. Washington Street, Suite 1500E, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or at 1-800-851-4268. Decisions rendered by Consumer Affairs shall be considered binding by all parties.


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More Cool Bedroom Rug Ideas You'll Love
Get inspired with adult Bedroom Rug Ideas ideas and photos for your home refresh or remodel. Wayfair offers thousands of design ideas for every room in every style.
With 50 beautiful Bedroom Rug Ideas designs, there's a room for everyone. Bedroom Rug Ideas can have a big impact with the right design. Check out these fabulous bedroom decorating ideas. All the Bedroom Rug Ideas design ideas you'll ever need. Find your style and create your dream bedroom scheme no matter what your budget, style or room size.
Find the best Bedroom Rug Ideas ideas, designs & inspiration to match your style. Browse through images of bedroom decor & colours to create your perfect home. A small master Bedroom Rug Ideas doesn't have to be a problem. 40 Bedroom Rug Ideas Ideas to Make Your Home Look Bigger. Light colors enhance the feeling of space, while darker hues tend to close in lighten up your walls and furnishings.


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Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein, min. 9.0%
Crude Fat, min. 5.0%
Crude Fiber, max. 1.5%
Moisture, max. 78%
Ash max. 2.5%
Magnesium max. 0.25%
Taruine min. 0.05%
Calories 180 kcal/100g as fed.
631 kcal/100g driy matter
CHICKEN Formula for Cats: Whole dress Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Fresh Trout, Brewers dried Yeast, Vegetable gum, Taurine, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochlode, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid Menadione, Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K), Zinc Proteinate, Ferrous Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate and Sodium Selenite.


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Dave Moursund's Blog for the discussion of his current and past writing projects.
From the Publisher
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Index (Search Engine)
Moursund, D.G. (2002). Obtaining resources for technology in education: A how-to guide for writing proposals, forming partnerships, and raising funds. Copyright (c) David Moursund, 2002. This is a recently revised edition of a book first published in 1996 and 1997 by the International Society for Technology in Education.
This Website contains the complete updated book. The original hardcopy versions of the book are now out of print and not readily available. There is no charge for making use of this Website. Please publicize it to others who may find it useful. Click here for access to other free educational materials provided by the author.
From the Publisher
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Computer-Related Technology in Education
Chapter 3: Four Important Ideas in Writing Proposals
Chapter 4: The Dollars and Cents of Proposal Writing
Chapter 5: The Proposal Business Is a Human Endeavor
Chapter 6: Types of Proposal-Writing Situations
Chapter 7: Evaluation of Formal Proposals
Chapter 8: Components of a Proposal
Chapter 9: Paying Attention to Details
Chapter 10: Partnerships With Businesses
Chapter 11: Entrepreneurship
Chapter 12: Fund-Raising
Chapter 13: Some Innovative Sources of Funds
Appendix A: Sample NSF Preliminary Proposal
Appendix B: Sample Private Foundation Proposal
Appendix C: Sample Proposal from a Science & Technology Museum
Appendix D: Sample Student-written Proposal Written as a Class Assignment
Appendix E: Sample Proposal to Apple, Inc.
Index. The following site-specific search engine is provided in lieu of an Index. By default the search engine tries to locate pages which have exact matches for all of the words entered in your search query. If that fails, it then tries to locate pages which contain any words in your search query. If that happens a short message is displayed at the top of the search results indicating this has been done. Detailed directions for doing advanced searches are given immediately after the search form (below).
1. phrase search
The search engine supports three types of phrase search.
2. + and - qualifiers
If you prepend a word with + that word is required to be on the page.
3. * wildcard
If a query word ends with a * all words on a page which start the same way as that query word will match.
4. ? wildcard
If a query word contains a ? any character will match that position.
5. boolean search
You can use the following boolean operators in your search: AND, OR, NOT. These operators MUST be in capital letters.
6. All of the techniques listed above can be combined:
Example: +alway* -ne??r*


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Lies, damned lies and politicians
Lies, damned lies and politicians
Anne B. Butterfield, October 7, 2012 (Boulder Daily Camera)
From the sparring at the first presidential debate, it's pretty sure that energy has become a divisive as well as a competitive issue. Both President Obama and Governor Romney want to be the triumphal producer of energy.
However Romney likes to smear climate change concerns and clean energy investments, as if all of them go like Solyndra, where a half a billion in loan guarantees went down with the company, as he crowed that 50 percent of clean energy investments supported by the stimulus bill had gone belly up. This was dubbed the "lie of the night" by Michael Grunwald, author of a book about the stimulus bill, citing that maybe one percent of government backed clean energy ventures failed.
Try getting that rate of safety in your investing. According to a new poll by Hart for the solar industry, voters seem to know that loan guarantees are a steadfast service of government and highly safe, as the Solyndra debacle was deemed unimportant by respondents. Ninety-two percent of registered voters found it important that solar be more widespread, with 70 percent believing that the federal government should be doing more to promote it with incentives (with 71 percent of swing voters feeling this way).
And, sigh, with tens of thousands of wind power jobs on the chopping block already, Mitt Romney opposes the renewal of the Production Tax Credit. This, even as red states need it renewed, putting him in the dog house with GOP politicians such as Senator Chuck Grassely of Iowa whose state produces 20 percent of its power from wind, and Governor Brownback of Kansas who has made vigorous pleas for the extension of the credit, due to expire this at the end of this year.
Didn't Romney get the memo? Republican governors are making hay with clean energy such as Haley Barbour and Chris Christie. To Mississippi, Barbour brought four solar sector firms to Mississippi along with two in biofuels plus a clean tech car venture with China. Christie made New Jersey a leading solar market in the nation, this year contending with California for first place.
But Romney and other high priests of the GOP act as though the only real energy is the type that can be burned, and somehow, Obama has nibbled at this hemlock by constantly touting his success with fracking and his openness to the XL pipeline.
A truly strange specter is that pipeline; it lets our heartland be used as a byway for tar sands products (which sink rather than float when spilled), so they can go straight to international markets. We get the downsides and none of the upsides -- even as the pipeline could increase gasoline prices in the Midwest, which would lose its existing access to tar sands products.
One plausible upside of the pipeline being routed through the United States (where it might be built quickly, as would not happen in the alternative route through western Canada) is that it could strengthen the hand of President Obama in his suite of sanctions against Iran, including a worldwide boycott of Iranian oil. Our recent frack-mania allows our nation to resume oil production levels not seen for 15 years and thus strengthens our hand. Three weeks ago Iran admitted having problems selling oil due to U.S. and European sanctions; now the nation's currency is in free fall.
One certainly hopes that tar sands will thrive mightily as a "psy-ops" against Iran and not as a chemical weapon against our climate, as Dr. James Hansen has sternly warned.
Never bounded by his prior convictions about the climate, Romney crows that he would authorize the pipeline on day one and build it himself if need be (as if he in his wingtips could "John Wayne" his way around an oil field). It's all such a sham he-man rodeo.
And no one mentioned the climate -- in spite of hundreds of thousands of petition signatures demanding the topic. Neither candidate pushed clean energy as the vote winner that poll after poll have shown it to be. Authors for DBL Investors in their study of green energy exclaim, "We all need to understand that green jobs are not the idle dreaming of a small group of partisan activists and insiders, but a source of livelihood for millions, literally in all parts of the country." The light shines in the darkness but the darkness of our politics has not understood it. Tweet


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By Sue Ann Rybak
For the second year in a row, the Whitemarsh Township Police Department received a $15,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to aid in the campaign against underage drinking.
Funds from the grant support proactive patrols and target the illegal use and sales of alcohol to minors. They also support a new awareness and educational program.
"As a partner in the effort to prevent underage, binge and problematic drinking, we provide funds to local organizations committed to making a significant difference in their community," said Patrick J. "PJ" Stapleton III, PLCB chairman, in a statement. "At a time when public funds are stretched thinner than ever, we know these grant awards will go a long way towards improving the health and safety of communities across the commonwealth."
"Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people, according to a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control," said Jerry Waters Sr., director of the PLCB's Office of Regulatory Affairs. "We know underage drinking has a tremendous impact on youth, families and communities throughout Pennsylvania, and we are committed to providing the resources necessary to help children make better choices."
"The enforcement and education grant will allow our community to work together to address these serious issues, which will ultimately ensure the safety of our teenagers and young adults, said Sgt. Francis Wheatley, of the Whitemarsh police.
He said that the police department first found out about the grant two years ago in an effort to prevent teenage deaths related to drinking and driving. A new grassroots initiative was formed in 2010.
The Whitemarsh Police Department, in cooperation with Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and Germantown Academy, established a new student-based partnership called the S.A.F.E Coalition, which stands for Student Awareness Forum and Education.
The mission of the S.A.F.E. Coalition allows students from both schools to brainstorm strategies for combating high-risk behavior by creating innovative awareness programs, public service announcements, and a partnership between police departments, local businesses and community representatives.
Over the last several years the Whitemarsh police have been working closely with the local chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. This partnership has allowed high school students to have a voice and work closely with school counselors and law enforcement officials to development awareness programs and Public Service Announcements that target the decision-making process of teens when it comes to high-risk behaviors.
Amanda Logan, a senior at Germantown Academy and president of the Plymouth Whitemarsh Germantown Academy S.A.F.E. Coalition, joined the club at Germantown Academy because she wanted "to draw attention to the importance of educating classmates about this stuff."
Currently, PWGA's S.A.F.E. Coalition has seven members.
"We held several assemblies this year on the consequences of underage drinking and texting while driving," Logan said. "The club has raised awareness about the consequences of underage drinking."
Recently, the S.A.F.E. Coalition produced it first PSA in cooperation with the Colonial School District, which is now airing on Colonial TV (CTV) and on the Whitemarsh Township's cable channel. Kim Newell, CTV director, played a pivotal role in developing and producing the Underage Drinking Awareness PSA Video, utilizing students from the S.A.F.E Coalition, PWHS's SADD Chapter and officers from the Whitemarsh Police Department.
"As a result of these new collaborations, the Whitemarsh Police Department have begun to see a decrease in underage drinking violations that we believe is directly related to airing the PSA/ Underage Drinking Awareness Campaign in the high schools," Wheatley said.
"We have also seen the number of underage drinking arrests at high school sporting events reduced dramatically with the airing of the PSA campaign," he said. "The high schools student's awareness of the collaboration between the Whitemarsh Police Department and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Broad was an effective prevention tool that relayed a strong message of zero tolerance regarding underage drinking violations at school function."
The S.A.F.E. coalition's goals include creating a community-based dialogue about the problem of hazardous decision-making and its consequences, creating programming and literature for area students, developing a mentoring program between high school and middle school students where student concerns about destructive decision making can be addressed in a safe environment, and reaching out to local businesses and officials to disseminate information about the danger of high-risk behavior among the teen demographic and the local community.


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- I'm thinking about running for a political office, where do I go for information?
- Statewide candidates, click here
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- Report due dates vary depending on what activity you are reporting, for a list of all our reports and their due dates, click here
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A candidate, a committee, an independent expenditure committee, or a sole individual filing Form Ind-Exp-I shall submit a copy of a campaign bank statement upon request by the board.
A committee for a statewide PAC, statewide candidate or legislative candidate shall submit a copy of the committee's final bank statement showing the committee's closing transactions and a zero balance with the committee's final report.
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- For independent expenditure requirements, click here
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- For temporary PAC requirements, click here.
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- For information regarding the complaint process, click here.
- Information on making contributions (who, what, when, how much)
- IRS Tax Law on Political Activities by Charities
- Government Positions Banned from Political Activities


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Adele Biography Reveals Details of How First Boyfriend Left Her for a Man
Poor Adele. She's been so unlucky in love prior to current boyfriend Simon Konecki. And for once, we're not talking about the dude – likely a fashion photographer — who inspired her best-seller '21.' Yes, there was another not-so-good boyfriend and their relationship was source material for her previous album. The explosive new book, 'Adele: The Biography,' claims that Adele's first love who inspired her debut '19′ left her for a man.
Damn, Adele really knows how to pick 'em!
The book claims that only four hours went by after Adele declared her love for this person when ran off with one of her gay friends. According to The Daily Mail, author Marc Shapiro writes, "Adele had professed her love and he did the same. She had known he was bisexual but, in the rush of romance, felt they could make it work … four hours after laying their emotional cards on the table, the boy ran off with one of Adele's gay friends!"
That had to smart. While humiliated, Adele and the unnamed bisexual boy tried to make their relationship work. It failed, as he cheated on her for months and she had enough of the infidelity.
Adele hasn't hidden this fact –she even writes about it in her official bio on her website. She posted: 'Daydreamer' is about this boy I was in love with, like proper in love with, he was bi and I couldn't deal with that. All the things I wanted from my boyfriend, he was never going to be, I get really jealous anyway, so I couldn't fight with girls and boys."
The relationship is said to have hastened and exacerbated Adele's drinking problem.
While it sucks for Adele to have to deal with shady dudes, at least she turns her dating rotten lemons into a pitcher of gourmet lemonade via her music. She mines her personal life, using it to fuel her lyrics and her emotional delivery. The music world is a better place because of it.
Watch Adele 'Someone Like You' Video