Today's Labour News

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Two female deputy principals in a violent fight at Duduza school

SowetanLive reports that a disagreement between two female deputy principals at a Gauteng school escalated into a bloody altercation when one allegedly assaulted the other using office equipment.  The provincial education department confirmed on Monday that it was investigating the incident after one of the deputy principals at Asser Maloka Secondary School in Duduza township on the East Rand was injured.  A pupil witnessed the alleged attack inside the administration office.  "One of them was complaining that the other one had been gossiping about her.  Then, all of a sudden, she stood up and hit her on the forehead with a paper punch.  Her skin was ripped open and there was blood gushing out," the pupil said.  The deputy apparently then continued to hit her colleague with a laptop across the face.  "The other deputy was screaming for help.  The receptionist had to run out of the office to get help.  It was really scary," the pupil said.  Another teacher expressed surprise that the perpetrator was still reporting to work after what happened.

Read this report by Zoe Mahopo in full at SowetanLive

Prof Mayosi twice tried to resign before he took his life, says UCT vice-chancellor

The Citizen reports that University of Cape Town (UCT) cardiologist Professor Bongani Mayosi, who committed suicide on Friday, tried twice in the period since 2016 to resign, but was not released by the institution.  Vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng revealed to Cape Talk radio station on Monday that the former dean of health science at the institution started suffering from depression during the 2016 Fees Must Fall protests.  “In times of conflict, a lot of things happen, a lot of things go wrong… I’m not saying students are to blame – students themselves were traumatised.  Oftentimes we think it’s only students; the staff themselves were traumatised, and the things we say to one another during conflict are not desirable.”  Phakeng revealed that during the protests the deceased, who had been the middleman between the students and staff, was called “a coconut, a sellout”.  Asked why Mayosi was not allowed to resign, Phakeng said the answer she had received so far was that “it would not look good for a black dean to resign”.  She indicated that she was still waiting for a full report on why he was not allowed to quit.  Phakeng also said tertiary institutions were no longer safe spaces for ideas, as those who opposed certain views were perceived as the “enemy”.

Read this report by Batandwa Malingo in full at The Citizen. Read too, Tributes pour in for acclaimed medical pioneer Bongani Mayosi, at BusinessLive. And also, UCT must take responsibility for Prof Mayosi's death, says former Fees Must Fall leader, at News24

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Imperial Holdings CEO to extend medical leave after minor stroke, at Business Report
• Letaba Hospital employee stabbed by lover at work, at The Citizen

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Gautrain takes legal steps to prevent intimidation during wage strike

Fin24 reports that Gautrain said on Monday evening that it had taken legal steps to ensure that striking workers protested peacefully and had implemented additional safety measures following the first day of an indefinite wage strike.  It would not divulge what the legal action entailed.  "We have implemented additional security measures and the safety of passengers and workers will not be compromised at any time.  We have taken the necessary legal steps to ensure that the Untu members protest peacefully and within the ambits of the law," said Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager in a statement on Monday evening.  Since the strike began, Gautrain has operated a reduced rail service.  On day one on Monday, the Bombela Operating Company, which runs the Gautrain, claimed that busses were delayed due to striking employees blocking the road to the Midrand depot.  The buses were earmarked to ferry commuters between Sandton, OR Tambo International Airport and Rhodesfield during the industrial action.  The United National Transport Union (Untu) denied being responsible for any intimidation and insisted that members picketed outside the depot peacefully.

Read this report by Tehillah Niselow in full at Fin24. Read too, Gautrain extends service to airport amid wage strike, at Fin24

Use of stun grenades on Gautrain strikers uncalled for, says Untu

The Citizen reports that according to the United National Transport Union (Untu), the shots police fired at its members during the first day of their Gautrain wage strike were uncalled for.  Untu spokesperson Sonja Carstens said the striking workers who had gathered at the Midrand bus depot on Monday morning had harmlessly danced in front of a bus that was attempting to leave, chanting “hamba” in Zulu.  She indicated that after the bus turned back to park in the depot, police fired five stun grenades at the striking workers.  Carstens said this was uncalled for as the strike was peaceful and claims of intimidation towards nonstriking workers were not true.  However, Gautrain spokesperson Kesagee Nayager said:  “The bus service was delayed this morning as striking workers blocked the road preventing buses from leaving the depot.  As a result, buses were unable to service Sandton station over the afternoon peak and a very limited number of buses serviced the airport and Rhodesfield passengers.”  She added that the train service operated according to plan with no delays.  According to Carstens, the two parties had not communicated since their deadlock on Saturday and that the strike would be indefinite until the employers gave in to their demands.

Read this report by Chisom Jenniffer Okoye in full at The Citizen

Striking Gautrain workers insist of seeing Bombela financials

Moneyweb reports that striking United National Transport Union (Untu) members are adamant that the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which operates the Gautrain, should open its books and show, among other things, the bonuses paid to executives over the last few years.  Bombela has refused to disclose its financial statements to the union, even on a confidential basis.  The operations of Gauteng’s high-speed Gautrain were severely disrupted on Monday when Untu, which represents 90% of Bombela staff, went on strike for higher wages and improved benefits.  Untu members gathered at the Gautrain train and bus depot in Midrand and at one stage police fired a few stun grenades at them.  BOC has offered an 8.5% wage increase, while Untu continues to demand an increase of 10%.  Two of the contested demands relate to increases in the transport and housing allowances.

Read this report by Antoinette Slabbert in full at Moneyweb. Read too, Union wants Gautrain to disclose finances, at BusinessLive. Untu’s demands are contained in the union’s Monday press statement on at SA Labour News

Eskom warns of load shedding this week, amid sporadic industrial action on Monday

BusinessLive reports that Eskom has warned of load shedding this week amid sporadic industrial action by workers who staged pickets at its facilities across the country on Monday.  The power utility has been engaged in wage negotiations with trade unions for two months and reached an impasse over bonus payments on Friday.  Eskom said in a statement on Monday that operations had been negatively impacted at several power stations due to acts of intimidation, sabotage and obstruction of access to workplaces.  Spokesman Khulu Phasiwe indicated that Eskom had activated its emergency structures, but "the risk of load shedding remains high".  The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was aware that its members and those belonging to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) had engaged in pickets on Monday, but dismissed claims that the workers were responsible for disruptions at the plants.  Eskom employees are categorised as essential service and cannot take part in strikes.

Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Load-shedding likely this week‚ Eskom warns amid worker ‘intimidation’, at Timeslive. Read Eskom’s press statement at Eskom News

Disruptions hit Eskom's Arnot power station amid wage protests

Reuters reports that power utility Eskom said on Tuesday that one of the coal-fired units at its Arnot power station was not working.  It, however, denied claims by two union sources that five of the units were down because of low coal supplies and wage protests.  Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe did confirm union reports of intimidation at the plant by protesting employees preventing non-striking colleagues from showing up to work.  He could not confirm reports that three other units at two power stations were down.  A source at trade union Solidarity, one of three involved in the wage talks whose members have not taken part in the protests, confirmed that "all stations are open for workers to enter now".  The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said many of its members at Eskom were on what amounted to a wildcat strike.  NUM energy sector coordinator Paris Mashego said the power stations affected on Monday included Kendal, Hendrina, Arnot, Duvha and Matla, with workers at the Kriel station expected to down tools on Tuesday.  Phasiwe said coal supplies remained a concern.  The utility has warned that there was a high risk of electricity cuts this week because of the disruptions.  

Read this report in full at eNCA. Read too, Police deployed to Eskom substations to prevent sabotage of power supply, at EWN. And also, SA braces for a cold, dark evening on Tuesday as Eskom warns of load shedding, at City Press

LABOUR MARKET / JOBS

Unemployment rate rises to 27.2%, as manufacturing sector sheds 105,000 jobs

BusinessLive reports that SA’s unemployment rate worsened to 27.2% in the second quarter, from 26.7% in the first quarter, Statistics SA reported on Tuesday in its quarterly labour force survey.  Manufacturing lost 105,000 jobs; community, social and personal services lost 93,000; and trade lost 57,000 jobs.  On the plus side, transport added 54,000 jobs, construction added 45,000 and mining added 38,000.  The expanded unemployment rate, which includes discouraged work seekers, increased by 0.5 percentage points to 37.2%.  The number of discouraged work seekers increased to 2.9-million people during this period while the working-age population increased by 154,000 people.  The Free State suffered the largest increase in its unemployment rate, which grew by 1.6 percentage points.  The Eastern Cape had the highest unemployment rate, at 45.8%.  Youth employment, however, declined slightly — by 0.6 of a percentage point — to 31.6%.  This bracket covers to people between the ages of 15 and 24.  Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said last week that the current growth trajectory remained too low to tackle SA’s unemployment levels.

Read this report by Sunita Menon in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Shock rise in SA unemployment as manufacturing bleeds jobs, at Fin24

Pick n Pay created 14,000 net new jobs in three years, despite voluntary severance programme

BusinessLive reports that despite its recent voluntary severance programme, Pick n Pay created almost 14,000 net new jobs over the past three years and intends creating 15,000 more in the next three years.  This was indicated by chairman Gareth Ackerman at the grocery chain’s annual general meeting on Monday morning.  Pick n Pay has invested R5.3bn in opening and refurbishing stores and building its supply chain in the past three years.  Ackerman indicated at the AGM that Pick n Pay worked with about 10,000 suppliers, and last year spent nearly R68bn with them, helping provide employment to more than 400,000 people.  "In total, we believe at least 1-million people are directly affected by Pick n Pay by way of employment," Ackerman claimed, adding that 21,000 people were employed by Pick n Pay franchise owners.

Read this report by Robert Laing in full at BusinessLive. Read too, We need to place more focus on creating employment, says Pick n Pay, at Business Report

LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

Parliament petitioned to introduce ‘elder care leave’

Timeslive reports that Hendri Terblanche‚ who successful petitioned Parliament to allow men to get more days off to take care of their newborns‚ now wants the roles reversed for adult children and their elderly parents.  He is again petitioning Parliament‚ this time to amend the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 to include "parent‚ adoptive or grandparent" in the section relating to time off work – or to introduce a new type of leave called "Elder Care Leave" to allow for time to care for an aging parent who was sick or terminally ill.  In a letter to the National Council of Provinces‚ Terblanche said elder care was just as important as childcare and employees should receive three days’ paid leave‚ or six weeks’ unpaid leave‚ when a parent or adoptive parent was ill.  He pointed out that legislation and policies such as family responsibility leave have been developed around the role of the parent as caregiver and not the receiver of care-giving.

Read this report by Nivashni Nair in full at Timeslive

RETIREMENT AND OTHER EMPLOYEE FUNDS

State calls on former public servants to claim unpaid and unclaimed pension benefits

BusinessLive reports that the government has called on retired public servants and their beneficiaries to apply for unclaimed and unpaid pension benefits, which amount to more than R1.6bn.  Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo indicated on Monday that the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) had 44,190 cases of unpaid and unclaimed benefits as of May 2018.  The GPAA administers pensions on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF).  The GPAA is dealing with 26,919 cases of unpaid benefits that amount to R907.1m, while there are 17,271 cases of unclaimed benefits valued at a total of R698.9m.  Dlodlo called on government departments and trade unions, among other stakeholders, to alert former public servants to the benefits and the need to apply.

Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive. Read the DPSA’s press statement in this regard at SA Govt News

COMMUTING / TRANSPORT SERVICES

Santaco announces taxi fares increases from Wednesday

ANA reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) on Tuesday said taxi fares for local and long distance operations would increase on Wednesday, with a further review due in June 2019.  Santaco spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa said as from Wednesday the increase for local distance taxis would be between R1 and R10, while long distance taxi rides would cost between R1 and R20 more.  “These increases may be more in some areas especially long distance operations.  Not to mention the preceding years of business pressure, for the January 2017 to January 2018 period alone the petrol price has increased with 130 percent,” Molelekwa indicated.  He added that Santaco regretted the impact of these increases on commuters, especially the poor, but without the fare hikes many taxi operators would struggle to stay in business and continue to offer a much-needed service.

Read this report in full at eNCA. Read too, Commuters to be hit by taxi fare increase, at The Star

Arson attacks, train crime weigh on Metrorail passenger figures in Cape Town

EWN reports that Metrorail’s passenger numbers have dropped drastically over the past 18 months due to arson attacks and general criminality affecting trains.  Commuter numbers have decreased from 630,000 to 500,000.  The rail operator's woes have been compounded by costly fires which have laid waste to more than a dozen train carriages in recent months.  Last week alone there were three incidents in the city in which train coaches were gutted in fires.  Authorities suspect arson.  Metrorail's Richard Walker said:  "Given the nature of our network in the Western Cape, it is the most desired way of commuting, it is the backbone of public transport and therefore we need to make sure that we bring stability back into the system over the next 18 to 24 months."

This short report by Kaylynn Palm is at EWN