Mid-morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 6 March 2015
In our Friday roundup, see summaries of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since mid-morning on Wednesday, 4 March 2015.
VAVI’S FATECosatu gives Vavi last chance to explain himselfBDLive reports that the leaders of labour federation Cosatu on Thursday told general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi he had one more chance to explain himself before they acted against officials implicated in a probe into the acquisition of Cosatu’s headquarters.Read more...Other internet posting(s) in this news category
OTHER COSATU NEWS Cosatu’s cash crisis not just a drying up of Numsa subs but also misplaced priorities Natasha Marrian writes that the cash crunch at labour federation Cosatu, which expects a R4m deficit in a year in which it has to bankroll an elective congress, was a long-time coming, but, while the drying up of subscriptions from the expelled National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has not helped, that is not the main reason behind the federation’s failing fortunes. New metalworkers’ union Limusa not replacing Numsa, says Cosatu The new-formed Liberated Metalworkers' Union of SA (Limusa) was not replacing the expelled National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), labour federation Cosatu said on Thursday. Other internet posting(s) in this news category
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY Findings of Tongaat mall inquiry to go to Director of Public Prosecutions Jay Singh, the man behind the ill-fated Tongaat Mall, will have to wait until at least the end of May before he finds out who might be prosecuted in connection with the mall's collapse on 19 November 2013 when two people were killed and 29 injured. Tongaat mall was always safe, developer Singh tells inquiry Durban businessman Jay Singh on Wednesday told the Department of Labour commission of inquiry investigating the Tongaat Mall collapse that the building site was always safe. Other internet posting(s) in this news category
MINING LABOUR Khulubuse Zuma shirks responsibility for plight of Pamodzi mineworkers Khulubuse Zuma on Thursday bemoaned statements by labour federation Cosatu and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) blaming him for the plight of Pamodzi Gold's former mineworkers. Gupta-owned JIC Mining refuses to reinstate mine captain, takes CCMA ruling on review Fin24 reports that Clinton Cilliers from Rustenburg is set to receive a substantial sum in compensation from the Gupta-owned Westdawn Investments, trading as mining outsourcing company JIC Mining Services. Read more...
RETRENCHMENTS / RESTRUCTURING / JOB LOSSES NUM reports that four mining firms want to cut 1 031 jobs in Northern Cape Bloomberg Business reports that according to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), four mining companies in SA, including Assmang and Rockwell Diamonds, plan to cut 1,031 jobs between them at operations in Northern Cape. Liquidators of Cons Murch gold mine in Limpopo still seeking buyer to save jobs SABC News reports that liquidators at Cons Murch mine outside Phalaborwa in Limpopo say they are still in a process of getting a new buyer for the troubled gold mining company. Read more...
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING / INDUSTRIAL ACTION Cosatu’s seven public service unions in strike threat after state cuts wage offer to 4.8% Business Report writes that, barely a week after Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene tabled his latest Budget, seven unions in the public service are threatening to strike over a salary increase. As Post Office turns to courts to stop another strike, ruling due today The Star reports that the SA Post Office (Sapo) has filed an urgent application at the Labour Court for an interdict to stop a possible strike by workers affiliated to the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Samwu strike at Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) continues The New Age reports that SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) are on strike and did not report for duty for a third day running on Wednesday. Vehicles and house of non-strikers at Joburg Roads Agency spray-painted Sowetan reports that the house of a Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) employee has been spray-painted, allegedly by his striking colleagues. Strike halts construction work at Coega power plant Herald Live reports that work on the Dedisa peaking power plant at Coega ground to a halt yesterday when angry workers downed tools claiming unfair labour practices from the main site contractor, Group Five. Municipalities, unions bang heads over pay rises in first round Times Live reports that the first round of wage negotiations between the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) is headed for deadlock after the employers’ offer, on behalf of 278 municipalities, of a 4.4% increase for the first year was rejected. Diepkloof mortuary strike over doctor’s return ends The Star reports that calm has been restored to the Diepkloof government mortuary in Soweto after doctors at the facility returned to work following a two-day strike. Read more... Hope between the stitches, as clothing industry hires for the first time in years Nellie Brand-Jonker reports that, after years of sweating blood, the local clothing industry is seeing an upswing for the first time in a long while. Read more... Civil servants warned on qualification fraud An increasing number of civil servants were lying about their qualifications, the communications department said on Wednesday. Other internet posting(s) in this news category
WORKER FUNDS Public comment sought on proposal to temporarily cut UIF contributions BDLive reports that the Treasury indicated on Wednesday that Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene is seeking public comment on a proposal to temporarily reduce employer and employee contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). Read more... SABC worker lays assault charge against the broadcaster’s head of news Mail & Guardian reports that the SABC's head of news, Jimi Matthews, has been accused of assaulting a female staff member outside Parliament during the State of the Nation Address. Read more... Labour Minister confirms suspension of her legal services chief and 15 others BDLive reports that Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has confirmed that her department’s chief director of legal services, Adv Nkahloleng Phasha, remains suspended on full pay, making him one of 16 suspended departmental officials, costing R5.2m a year. Read more... Most municipalities dysfunctional, says Solidarity Research Institute in reply to Gordhan In reality more than a third of South African municipalities were dysfunctional at various levels, trade union Solidarity said on Thursday. Read more... Deputy labour minister in car accident on Monday The Star reports that Deputy Minister of Labour Patekile Holomisa was involved in a car crash in Transkei in which at least five people were injured. Read more... See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Thursday, 5 March 2015 at SA Labour News |