In our Friday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Wednesday, 26 April 2017.
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SAA cabin crew union pauses with application to review strike interdict BusinessLive reports that the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) said on Friday that it had decided not to proceed yet with a review of an interdict against strike action at South African Airways (SAA). This has ended the prospect of further delays to domestic and international flights over the long weekend. The union had been expected to approach the labour court on Friday to appeal a Wednesday interdict ordering a return to work. Sacca general secretary, Mpho Moikangoa, said that following legal consultation, the union had decided to go to court next week as this would allow more time and for the matter to be reviewed by a new judge. The association, which represents about 85% of SAA’s cabin crew, is demanding an increased meal allowance in respect of international flights. SAA had been granted an interdict against the strike on Wednesday, but the association said it had not been able to put its arguments before the court. Read this report by Karl Gernetzky in full at BusinessLive SAA’s flight schedule back to normal after cabin crew industrial action TMG Digital/BusinessLIVE report that SA Airways (SAA) said on Thursday its flight schedule had returned to normal after industrial action by cabin crew was brought to an end by a court interdict on Wednesday. The SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) said however it may seek to review the ruling and renew its pursuit of an increased international travel allowance. SAA said on Thursday it had had to cancel 50 flights on Wednesday as a result of the strike‚ but was expecting only minimal disruptions after a significant increase in cabin crew reporting for duty. But, Sacca’s Christopher Shabangu said SAA had not made significant moves in an attempt to address the union’s concerns‚ which also included general concerns over the state of the airline‚ including millions of rand being paid to international consultants on a turnaround strategy for the carrier. SAA said it was committed to a further facilitated dispute resolution process with the union over the next two months. Read this report by Karl Gernetzky in full at TimesLive. See too, Sacca prepares to file review against SAA interdict, at Business Report. And also, SAA to strike-hit passengers: 'We apologise for any inconvenience', at Business Report Dudu Myeni directs SAA management to urgently deal with cabin crew grievances EWN reports that South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson Dudu Myeni has directed the airline’s management to urgently deal with the issues raised by striking cabin crew. Workers affiliated to the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) demonstrated on Wednesday, demanding an increase in their international meal allowances when travelling overseas. This forced the national carrier to cancel 32 domestic and international flights. On Wednesday, SAA obtained a court interdict ordering all cabin crew to return to work immediately. The airline’s Tladi Tladi said it should be business as usual on Thursday. Sacca’s Mpho Moikangoa said they would continue engaging the airline in an effort to resolve their issues with management. Meanwhile, it was not clear if domestic flights which were earlier cancelled would be rescheduled for Thursday when workers return. Read this report by Pelane Phakgadi in full at EWN Devastating cabin crew strike ‘symptom of a deeper crisis’ at SAA, says DA City Press reports that the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Alf Lees says the cabin crew strike at SA Airways (SAA) is a symptom of a much deeper crisis at the airline. He has called for the Chairperson of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance, Yunus Carrim, to schedule an urgent meeting with SAA in Parliament next week. “The fact is that Dudu Myeni, who behaves less like a chairperson, and more like a ‘corporate warlord’, has run the national airline into the ground, and bankrupted South African Airways,” Lees said. A loss of R4.5 billion has been projected for 2016-2017, up from the R1.5 billion loss in 2015-16 and R5.6 billion loss in 2014-15. “The fact is that South African Airways is now in a crisis which affects the sovereign credit rating of South Africa,” Lees stated. Read this report by Leon Ngomane in full at City Press. Read the DA’s press statement in this regard at DA Newsroom Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Cosatu’s Dlamini says Zuma welcome as ANC leader to address May Day rally EWN reports that Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini says President Jacob Zuma is welcome to address the union federation’s May Day rally in his capacity as president of the African National Congress (ANC). Earlier this month, Cosatu’s central executive committee said it no longer had faith in Zuma’s leadership capabilities as president of the country and called for him to step down. Now two of Cosatu’s affiliates, the National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the Communication Workers Union (CWU), are against the decision to allow Zuma to speak at the rally, saying it will create conflicting messages. Nehawu has asked Cosatu to ask the ANC to send another representative. But Dlamini says the federation is only disputing Zuma’s leadership capability as the president of the country, not as leader of the party. “Cosatu has invited speakers of the ANC and the ANC deploys the speakers it chooses to select. If Zuma comes, then we won’t have a problem,” Dlamini said. This report by Mia Lindeque is at EWN. See too, Zuma not welcome at May Day celebrations, say Nehawu and CWU, at eNCA. And also, Nehawu demands that Cosatu bars Zuma from speaking at May Day rally, at News24 Calls mount for Zuma to be barred from Cosatu’s May Day event IOL News reports that pressure is mounting on Cosatu to make a final decision on whether to allow President Zuma to address the labour federation’s annual May Day rally in Bloemfontein on Monday. On Thursday, more unions mounted calls to block the president from addressing the event. Last Friday, the National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) argued in a letter to Cosatu that allowing Zuma to speak would cause conflict in the federation and requested, instead, to be addressed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to a BusinessLive report, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) also wrote to that effect. IOL News reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) on Thursday joined the calls to bar Zuma from speaking. But, the pro-Zuma unions, notably the NUM, Satawu and Limusa, lashed out at those calling for Zuma not to address the rally, accusing them of factionalism. Read this report by Luyolo Mkentane, Noni Mokati and Tebogo Monama in full at IOL News. Read too, Unions say no to Zuma May Day address, at BusinessLive Sadtu backs calls for Zuma’s exclusion at Cosatu May Day event EWN reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) says it agrees with those unions that believe President Jacob Zuma shouldn’t address labour federation Cosatu’s May Day rally. But the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) says he should still speak at the event. On Wednesday night, it emerged that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and the National Health Education & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) had told Cosatu that Zuma should not speak on Monday, as it would be inconsistent with the trade union's resolution that the president should step down. Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it hasn’t made a decision on the issue, while the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA’s (Denosa’s) national executive committee hasn't yet met. The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) says it’s not going to indicated whether or not it believes Zuma should attend and it also won't say if has communicated with Cosatu on this issue. Read this report by Stephen Grootes in full at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Spotlight on safety of Western Cape emergency medical personnel Cape Argus reports that private emergency medical personnel have not been spared from attacks by members of the public, with one company having been targeted 10 times in two years. ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring indicated: "The people that attack the paramedics, they do not care if they are private or government services, they see people working in dangerous areas at various hours, and therefore see us as a soft target.” On Tuesday, the Western Cape provincial parliament’s standing committee on community development held a second Stakeholder Forum in Site C, Khayelitsha, where the safety of emergency medical services (EMS) was discussed. Khayelitsha is among the top 10 ‘red zone’ areas marked in four local Metro divisions. Mzwanya Nidbongo of the Khayelitsha Health Forum said safety was of grave concern. The community formed a committee to look into the issue. Read this report by Zodidi Dano in full at Cape Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mineworker dies after fall-of-ground incident at Amplats’ Tumela mine ANA reports that Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) reported on Wednesday that a mineworker had died from injuries suffered in a fall-of-ground related incident at the company’s Tumela Mine in the Thabazimbi District in Limpopo. The incident occurred on 8 April, but the employee succumbed to his injuries on Friday last week. Amplats chief executive, Chris Griffith, said an investigation was underway and sent condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased miner. Read this report in full at eNCA Implats weighs large-scale job cuts at Marula mine BusinessLive reports that Impala Platinum (Implats) said a year of disruptions and missed production targets meant it could be forced to lay off nearly a quarter of its 4,500-strong workforce at its Marula mine. At the heart of unrest at the operation is unhappiness in six communities that are part-owners of a chrome business set up by Implats to ensure that financial benefits flowed into the region. However, little of the money generated by the chrome company appears to have reached the broader community, with funds allegedly embezzled. It is said that tis echoes stories around the country of empowerment transactions benefiting a few instead of broader communities, or communities fracturing amid a scramble for economic gain. Read this report by Allan Seccombe in full at BusinessLive (paywall access). Read too, Implats boss upbeat despite challenges, at Business Report Other general internet posting(s) on mining
SA sees spike in IT online job vacancies ITWeb reports that the South African IT sector has seen the most year-on-year growth in the number of advertised roles among all other sectors. This is according to recruitment firm Robert Walters in its Robert Walters SA Jobs Index, which charts vacancy numbers posted to online platforms. The firm notes that IT job vacancies have had a positive increase of 38% from Q1 2016 to Q1 2017. Besides IT jobs, accounting and finance have seen a rise in the number of vacancies at 7%. "With companies looking to increase investment in IT infrastructure to grow their competitive advantage, there has been an evident rise in demand for IT professionals," said Lance Maree of Robert Walters SA. He went on to note: "IT professionals with technical and specialist skills sets with experience in systems and languages are in high demand within the South African job market. Developers, programmers and specialised software subject matter experts continue to be highly sought-after." Ernie Hipner, business development director at CareerWeb, said the IT jobs portal had seen an approximately 15% increase in IT job vacancies from last year. Read this report by Admire Moyo in full at ITWeb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
UIF changes could see paternity leave increased and unemployment benefits extended The Citizen reports that new dads could get more days of paternity leave off and may even get to dig into their Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), a privilege only available to fired employees. Speaking on Tuesday ahead of labour month, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said she foresaw further tweaks to legislation. In terms of current legislation, fathers were give three days’ leave, while mothers got three months. Dads may, with Parliament’s go-ahead, get 10 days. Going forward, if enacted, maternity benefits would no longer be on a sliding scale but at a flat rate of 60% of salary. Oliphant also said that unemployed contributors to the UIF would be able to receive benefits for 365 days instead of 238 days. Furthermore, a woman who lost her baby in the third trimester would also be entitled to the full benefit. Read this report by Denise Williams in full at The Citizen
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Wednesday, 26 April and Thursday, 27 April 2017 at SA Labour News
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