In our Thursday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Wednesday, 7 June 2017.
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Pregnant employee succumbs to toxic generator fumes in shoe store toilet Sowetan report that a pregnant shoe store employee died on Tuesday in a toilet after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes from a generator which was started in the adjacent store room after a power failure in the area . Ivy Makoma Shohledi, 30, of Tembisa, died in a Studio 88 toilet at Tembisa Plaza in Ekurhuleni. Other staff members also inhaled the fumes, but were not as seriously affected. Her devastated father said: “I received a call from a relative who was at the scene. I walked into the store room and found a generator on the floor. She was also lying on the floor. They said she was in the toilet and she could not come out.” When Sowetan visited Studio 88 on Wednesday the generator was still in the store room next to the toilet. A security officer at the shopping complex said all stores operated generators outside of the premises because they were not allowed to be operated inside a store. Read an extended summary of this report by Pertunia Mafokwane at SA Labour News. The original of this report is on page 8 of Sowetan of 8 June 2017 Metrorail says action to be taken against those responsible for Elandsfontein crash EWN reports that Metrorail says that if human error contributed to the Elandsfontein train crash, disciplinary measures would be taken against those responsible. Two trains crashed last week, one person was killed and about 100 others were injured. Preliminary investigations by the Railway Safety Regulator show multiple protocol violations might have caused the crash. Metrorail's Lillian Mofokeng said they noted the regulator’s report and were conducting their own internal investigations. She added: “That also seeks to ensure that we leave no stone unturned in terms of ensuring that we understand all the contributory factors to the train collision. The safety of commuters is very important to us.” This short report by Tebogo Tshwane is at EWN. See too, Elandsfontein train crash 'due to defects', at The Star Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Report to NUM central committee details the union’s many failures BusinessLive writes about the secretariat report which will be presented by the general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), David Sipunzi, to the union’s central committee meeting starting on Thursday. It shows that the divided organisation has lost more than 132,000 members in the past five years, with the once formidable union now boasting only about 176,000 members in the mining, construction and energy sectors, well short of the plan to grow the union to 220,000 members by the end of 2017. The report suggested infighting and the slump in the mining industry, among other factors, were to blame. It also states the rival ‘yellow union’ (i.e. Amcu) has managed to grow so fast because of the NUM’s failures and poor service. The report warns that the NUM “is not the only trade union in the field and tolerating substandard service delivery is at our own peril." Moreover, the NUM has struggled to rebuild its unity since its highly contested congress in 2015, during which then general secretary Frans Baleni was replaced by Sipunzi. The rifts that existed then have apparently failed to close. Sources say the division is getting worse, fuelled in the main by great mistrust between leaders who supported different factions at the 2015 congress. Read this informative report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive. See too, Mantashe to address NUM central committee meeting, at eNCA Mining industry to consider legal options if charter revisions onerous Reuters reports that the revision to South Africa’s Mining Charter, which sets industry targets for black ownership and participation in the sector, will face legal challenges if it is unacceptable to producers, the CEO of the Chamber of Mines said on Wednesday. “If the outcome is an outcome which is unacceptable to the industry then clearly we will consider our legal options,” Roger Baxter told an industry conference in Johannesburg. This short report is at Moneyweb. See too, Mining sector needs stable, predictable regulations, says Chamber, at Fin24. And also, Phosa condemns charter tinkering, urges growth negotiations, at Mining Weekly
Strike resolution talks between Samwu, Mangaung Metro remain deadlocked SABC News reports that talks between the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the Mangaung Metro, which includes Bloemfontein, remain deadlocked, resulting in essential services remaining badly affected. Municipal workers have been on strike since 17 May, accusing the Metro of not implementing local labour forum agreements, which include among other issues salary parity with other metros in the country. Samwu’s Free State chairperson, Congo Matsephe said: “This municipality has been a Metro since 2011. We have tabled two proposals: one is a R3,000 adjustment to monthly employees and the other is a once off payment of R40,000. Up to now nothing has been done." Employees are also demanding an end to outsourcing. The strike has severely affected residents. A short report by Thabiso Radebe is at SABC News. See too, Samwu se staking in Mangaung is ANC se skuld, sê DA, at Netwerk24 (limit on access) Dispute at Home Affairs over working hours threatens national shutdown City Press reports that employees of the Department of Home Affairs will be going strike if the department insists on making them work on Saturday without paying them overtime. The Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents 75% of the department’s employees, on Wednesday served the department with a notice to strike after a “conciliation of a long-standing dispute on working hours” failed. The department has been given 10 days to review its policy, after which employees will engage in strike action, beginning on 19 June. Nehawu is still consulting about the proposed strike action. At a conciliation hearing on Wednesday, there was failure between the department and unions, including the PSA, Nehawu and National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers, to reach an agreement over the implementation of new opening and closing working hours. One of the main points of disputes is whether work on Saturdays should include overtime pay, a demand which the department cannot concede to at this point due to financial constraints. Read this report by Avantika Seeth in full at City Press. Read too, Staking dreig by binnelandse sake, at Maroela Media. And also, Home Affairs served with notice to strike, at SA Govt News Agency Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Municipal workers don't want to move to brand new Tshwane House Pretoria News reports that municipal workers in the Speaker's office in Tshwane are vehemently opposed to the idea of moving to Tshwane House, which is the city's new headquarters, because the building won't afford them enough privacy. Unlike their old closed offices partitioned by brick walls, their new offices are partitioned with glass. Unhappy employees affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) on Tuesday engaged in an hour lunch break picket outside their offices. Open space offices, they complained, carried the potential to infringe on their privacy. They also griped about the prohibition on eating or drinking inside the new offices and claimed that the impressive Tshwane House did not comply with the occupation health safety standards. Their shop steward said workers were disgruntled because they were not consulted before a decision to move them was made. They have vowed not to vacate their old offices until the city has the addressed their complaints. Read this report in full at Pretoria News
Solidarity submits new main wage agreement to MEIBC Engineering News reports that Solidarity on Wednesday said it had submitted a new main wage agreement to the Metal and Engineering Industry Bargaining Council (MEIBC) as part of its wage demands for the industry level wage negotiations for the year. A new agreement was necessary since the Labour Court had declared the previous two main agreements invalid. For this reason, the proposed main agreement, which covers more than 450 pages, was updated and largely rewritten from the previous valid agreement. Solidarity’s Marius Croucamp said the new agreement was essential in ensuring that the service conditions in the industry did not revert to the previous agreement. “Solidarity wants to act proactively to assist the industry and its workers and to ensure stability in the industry. We cannot let the industry and its workers be further handicapped by a dated agreement,” Croucamp indicated. Solidarity’s initial wage demand is for an increase of 10%. The negotiations will continue on Thursday. A short report is at Engineering News. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at Solidarity online Numsa to demand 15% increase in metal and engineering sector wage talks ANA reports that, as wage talks in the metal and engineering sector begin on Wednesday, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has announced that it would be demanding a 15% wage increase across the board. The current wage agreement negotiated under the auspices of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) lapses at the end of this month. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said: “We have three simple demands. We demand a 15% wage increase across the board based on the actual rate that workers are earning, and not on the minimum rate. We demand an extension of the current agreement for two years. In this period all outstanding issues must be finalised. We demand the extension of the agreement to non-parties, this includes non-parties like Neasa (National Employers Association of SA) and Pcasa (Plastics Convertors Association of SA) who fall under the MEIBC.” Read this report in full at Engineering News. Read Numsa’s press statement in this regard at Numsa online Numsa ‘dismayed’ with employers’ proposals in metal and engineering wage talks ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Thursday that it was “dismayed” with proposals made by employers in the metal and engineering sector during two-day wage talks. This comes after Numsa submitted its demands on Wednesday to the employers represented in the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) for a 15% wage increase across the board calculated on actual rates. The union also wanted an extension of the current agreement for two years, for all outstanding issues to be finalised and for an extension of the agreement to non-parties. Numsa indicated that in response, employers proposed that wage increases be based on minimum rates rather than actual rates and that a minimum 45-hour week be introduced. Currently, metal and engineering employees work 40 hours, with anything over that constituting overtime. Employers apparently also wanted to reduce leave time for new employees by not allowing them the four weeks’ leave entitled to those who had worked four or more years. Numsa would be meeting with employers on Thursday for another day of talks. Read this report in full at The Citizen
Video report: Satawu whistleblowers reveal murder, corruption eNCA reports that the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), which is the third biggest affiliate of labour federation Cosatu, is being hijacked. Whistleblowers claim it's led by foreign nationals willing to use force -- including murder -- to silence members who dare to ask about missing millions of rands. In an exclusive eNCA video report, whistleblowers question the status of yet another Satawu leader, claiming he’s from Zimbabwe. General secretary of the union, Zenzo Mahlangu, was found to have obtained his South African citizenship fraudulently in April. He was subsequently deported to his home country Zimbabwe last month. Watch the full video report by Xoli Mngambi at eNCA
Zuma has failed, he must go, NUM hears at its central committee meeting ANA reports that the African National Congress-aligned National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Thursday called on President Jacob Zuma to step down to be replaced by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa. In his opening remarks at the two-day NUM central committee meeting underway in Tshwane, union president Piet Matosa said South Africa needed “sober leaders”. In calling for Zuma to step down, Matosa said Zuma had failed to lead and unite the country and the ANC. “The NEC [national executive committee] of NUM decided that Cyril Ramaphosa should be the next president of the ANC. Therefore we call upon this central committee [meeting] to endorse this decision and affirm in this regard,” Matosa said as he addressed the gathering, also attended by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. A Cosatu delegation, led by its president Sdumo Dlamini, was also present. Read this report in full at The Citizen
Mbalula wants critical top cop posts filled speedily The Star reports that Police Minister Fikile Mbalula told the Police Portfolio Committee in Parliament on Wednesday that he wants the critical appointments of a new head of the Hawks and a permanent national police commissioner to be completed speedily. He noted that the contract of suspended National Commissioner Riah Phiyega comes to an end on Saturday and said a permanent commissioner needed to be appointed soon. Lieutenant-General Lesetja Mothiba was appointed acting national commissioner last week after Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane was removed from that post. Mbalula told MPs he wants a permanent head of the police by August. He also told the committee he wants to appoint a permanent head of the Hawks urgently. Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata became the acting head of the Hawks after Mbalula removed Berning Ntlemeza. But Ntlemeza is fighting his axing in court. Mbalula said that despite his best intentions to fill these positions, they were hamstrung by legal processes. Read this report by Siyabonga Mkhwanazi in full on page 4 of The Star of 8 June 2017. See too, Mbalula to bring stability by filling critical police vacancies, at SABC News
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Wednesday, 7 June 2017 at SA Labour News
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