This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 17 August 2018.
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Labour broker workers in jobs bloodbath following ConCourt decision on ‘deemed’ provision City Press reports that workers placed by labour broker Adcorp at a factory in Springs first saw their pay double and benefits such as medical aid and a provident fund being provided for the first time, only days later to receive retrenchment letters. This was the experience of workers at Kellogg’s Ekurhuleni plant following the watershed Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling two weeks ago on the contentious “deeming” provision in the Labour Relations Act (LRA). At crisp maker Simba’s Isando facility, 142 out of 328 packers and boxmakers, who were also placed by Adcorp, face retrenchment after becoming permanent workers. The precedent at these two household name brands could be repeated at several workplaces where labour broker workers have been fighting to be “deemed” employees in terms of the LRA and so receive pay equal to that of their directly employed colleagues. Companies where cases like these are pending include Heineken, DHL, Bakers Biscuits, Clicks, Midas and online retailer Takealot. Kellogg’s Emmanuel Hinson said it was just an unfortunate coincidence that the retrenchments came just days after the workers succeeded in getting Kellogg’s to accept them as employees and raise their wages. The retrenchments were apparently due to a restructuring of the factory’s shift system that was in the works before the workers got ‘deemed’. Following the ConCourt ruling, thousands of workers could see their wages improve, but they also face severe employer reactions. One big deeming case that could be swayed by the ruling involves more than 500 labour broker workers at Clicks. City Press says it is aware of several other arbitration cases about deeming and equal pay pending at the CCMA, which have been waiting for the ConCourt judgment. Read this report by Dewald Van Rensburg in full at Fin24
Reward of R100k offered to catch killers of two Cape Town cops EWN reports that the Western Cape Community Safety Department has offered a R100,000 reward for information that would result in the arrest and conviction of two cop killers. The two off-duty constables were killed in separate incidents in Delft and Khayelitsha on Friday. Both officers were robbed of their firearms. MEC Dan Plato said the murders of police officers for seemingly no other reason than to obtain their firearms were disgusting acts of criminality. The SA Police Service (SAPS) indicated that no arrests had yet been made and that the Hawks were investigating the matter. The Minister of Police has also issued a 72-hour action plan to find those responsible. Read this short report by Kaylynn Palm in full at EWN. Read too, Two Cape Town cops killed in one night, firearms taken, at News24. And also, Western Cape top cop visits families of slain SAPS officers, at EWN Safety of police stations and cops to be scrutinised in Parliament News24 reports that National Police Commissioner General Kehla Sitole has been asked to brief Parliament on security measures at police stations and to protect officers. Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, Francois Beukman, said on Sunday: “It is evident that some criminal syndicates are targeting police stations that are not well secured to obtain firearms for criminal activity. Furthermore, the deployment of sufficient members during the weekend and night shifts is also paramount and station and cluster commanders should on an on-going basis monitor the effectiveness of security measures at police stations.” Condemning the killing of two police officers in Delft and Khayelitsha on Friday, Beukman said it was clear that the motivation had been to steal guns. He also mentioned concerns with two recent attacks at police stations in the Eastern Cape. Beukman said the committee was concerned that there had been apparent delays to plans to install CCTV cameras, upgrade perimeter fencing and install secure entrance gates at police stations. Read this report in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mine deaths rise, with 58 fatalities reported this year ANA reports that the number of workers who have died in SA mines to date this year is fifty-eight, higher than the 51 deaths during the same period in 2017. The figure was confirmed by the mining industry on Friday during the launch of the national day of health and safety 2018. The launch was part of the industry’s recommitment to the shared goal of zero-harm campaign and ensuring all employees could go to work in the knowledge that they would return home, every day, unharmed. Roger Baxter, chief executive of the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines), said the deterioration in safety performance was unacceptable, adding that the industry was still facing serious safety problems despite an 88% improvement in fatality rates between 1993 and 2016. Baxter said that over the next month, 66 members of the Minerals Council would be hosting safety and health days at each of their operations to recommit and reaffirm the industry’s commitment. Read this report in full at The Citizen. Read too, Mining industry to tackle 'unacceptable' rise in deaths, at Fin24 Gold mining sector wage negotiations ‘lack pragmatic approach’, says Solidarity ANA reports that wage negotiations in the gold mining sector will resume on Tuesday when the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) is expected to make a final salary increase offer to the four trade unions involved. Solidarity’s general secretary Gideon du Plessis said in a statement on Sunday that the council had so far been focusing only on so-called ‘category four to eight’ underground employees, “while the tradesmen and other senior miners have received a ridiculous offer of below the inflation rate, ranging from 3,5% (Sibanye-Stillwater), 4% (Village Main Reef) to 4,5% (Harmony and AngloGold Ashanti).” The present offer to lower-category employees apparently varied from 6% to 7.2%. “If the skilled employees again receive a lower offer than the lower-category employees on Tuesday chances are good that Solidarity’s members will reject it on principle,” Du Plessis indicated. Solidarity’s present mandate from its members is for an increase equivalent to the consumer price inflation rate (CPI) plus four percent, but according to Du Plessis it would reconsider its position if the council should “come up with a favourable and equitable offer to skilled employees that will serve as recognition of the contribution made by these employees.” Du Plessis also commented that the lack of innovation on the part of the council was a matter of concern and that a pragmatic approach linking a more favourable wage increase offer to increased production, productivity or skills development was lacking. Read this report in full at The Citizen. Read Solidarity’s press statement in this regard at SA Labour News We’re afraid of no-one and ready for a long strike, Amcu’s Mathunjwa tells Implats Reuters reports that the president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said on Thursday that his members were ready to strike for a year if necessary and would bring the platinum belt to a standstill if Impala Platinum (Implats) carried out plans to cut up to 13,400 jobs. Joseph Mathunjwa, who led a five-month strike in 2014, was speaking at a memorial marking the sixth anniversary of the "Marikana Massacre" when police shot dead 34 workers taking part in a strike at Lonmin's platinum mine. "No-one scares us, five months was nothing," said a visibly angry Mathunjwa before thousands of his members, adding that nothing would move during the strike in the platinum belt. He went on to say: "I'm telling you, we will do it for 12 months and these mines will not be operational, they will be at a standstill, nothing will happening here in South Africa, the revolution is imminent." South Africa's platinum belt is a flashpoint of labour and social unrest rooted in community grievances over jobs, revenue flows and conflict between rival unions. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly Gold Fields investors want blood and it’s Nick Holland’s head on the block over South Deep restructuring Business Times reports that last week’s announcement that Gold Fields would be restructuring its South Deep operation has led to the government and investors alike baying for blood and the obvious target is CEO of 10 years, Nick Holland. The restructuring of South Deep, into which Gold Fields has sunk about R32bn, will entail as many as 1,560 jobs being lost to stop the mine from bleeding about R100m a month. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has called for Holland to step down, but Holland has reportedly indicated he would not resign. "Any time a company loses R32bn heads should roll," said Peter Major of Cadiz Corporate Solutions. The unique structure of the ore body at South Deep, it has long been thought, made it ideal for mechanisation. However, so far Gold Fields has failed to make a success of it. Holland has blamed high turnover of senior management at the mine. Major agreed, but said the CEO was to blame for that. "Nick had so many teams in there ... I lost track. He's the one constant. Heads do need to roll, you can't just keep funding this thing year after year," he commented. Analyst at Noah Capital, Rene Hochreiter, said it was hard to see the operation making a profit anytime soon. Read more of this report by Lisa Steyn at SA Labour News. Read too, Gold Fields remains in ‘strong’ financial position, despite $367m loss, says Holland, at Mining Weekly. And also, Sword of Damocles hangs over South Deep miners’ heads, at Fin24 Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Amnesty International head calls lack of prosecutions for Marikana massacre a pathetic failure Times Select reports that Amnesty International’s new secretary-general‚ Kumi Naidoo‚ said on Thursday that the lack of prosecutions and decent reparations for the Marikana massacre was a "pathetic failure" on the part of the South African government. The fact that there was as yet no accountability for the killings of striking Lonmin mineworkers in 2012 was entrenching a culture of impunity‚ and those who gave the orders for police to shoot workers should have faced prosecution‚ he said. "I think it is a terrible statement that after six years there is also no meaningful compensation offered to the families affected. They have dragged their feet for far too long already." Durban-born Naidoo was speaking at the announcement of his appointment as the head of the largest human rights movement globally. A short report by Ranjeni Munusamy is at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Fawu accepts 6% wage offer at Blue Ocean Mussels following strike EWN reports that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has signed an agreement with Blue Ocean Mussels' Velddrif plant after employees went on strike over wage increases. Workers downed tools earlier this month demanding a 12% increase, but have settled for 6%. Fawu's Elind Haarder said: “We have come to an agreement of the 6% this year and 6% for next year. So, the workers have accepted that and will be back to work on Monday.” This short report by Kaylynn Palm is at EWN
Undeterred, Dlodlo forges ahead with planned civil service restructuring Mail & Guardian reports that Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo says the government will restructure the civil service despite objections from Cosatu. The labour federation warned after its central executive committee meeting last week that workers would not vote for the ANC in the 2019 national elections if government did not halt its plans to restructure. “We view the plans to retrench workers as an act of ultimate betrayal, especially after the government’s decision to increase VAT after promising not to do so,” Cosatu said. Dlodlo dismissed Cosatu’s threats and said government had no choice but to forge ahead with its restructuring, which she insisted was not intended to cut jobs. “If you [Cosatu] are going to look at the macro reconfiguration of the state as a threat to your membership numbers then you’re missing the point. The point is you don’t restructure to get rid of people, you restructure to make the system effective and efficient. Will it culminate in a loss of jobs? I don’t know,” she added. Mail &Guardian previously reported that discussions were under way in government for the allocation of “employer-initiated” severance packages for 30,000 public servants to ease pressure on the wage bill. In an interview last week, Dlodlo admitted that, during the public sector wage negotiations, government had tabled the employer-initiated process as an option but unions shot it down. “We did have that discussion with unions and it was rejected. We’ve moved on,” Dlodlo said. Read this report by Matuma Letsoalo & Dineo Bendile in full at Mail & Guardian. See too, Trim your bloated offices, Dlodlo tells cabinet ministers, on page 4 of The Sunday Times of 19 August 2018
PSA calls for PIC board to be dissolved so that labour representatives can be included Fin24 reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has called for the appointment of a new Public Investment Corporation (PIC) board, saying it should include labour representatives. This followed an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that an inquiry would be instituted into the governance of PIC. According to the National Treasury, the commission’s terms of reference would include a review of the PIC’s governance and operating model and also possible changes to the PIC’s founding legislation as well as to its memorandum of incorporation and investment decision-making framework. The PSA has been vocal about demanding accountability from the PIC, which manages around R2.2trn, most of which constitutes Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) funds. The PIC has been under the spotlight due to some controversial investment decisions, and allegations of impropriety surrounding its CEO Dan Matjila. In a statement on Friday, PSA general manager Ivan Fredericks that they wanted the PIC board to be dissolved and a new board to be appointed that included labour representatives. “The PSA has continuously raised its concern on, amongst others, the formation of the PIC board and the carte blanche given to the PIC by the GEPF with public servants’ pension investments," Fredericks indicated. The union has also turned to the courts to file an application for notice of motion at the Pretoria High Court to address its concerns. Read this report in full at Fin24
‘Long list’ of suspensions or criminal charges loom at Transnet, warns Popo Molefe News24 reports that Transnet board chairperson Popo Molefe has warned that a "long list" of employees could be suspended or find themselves facing criminal charges. This week, three Transnet executives, including CEO Siyabonga Gama, were served with suspension notices following investigations that revealed possible misconduct. Molefe indicated after a meeting with Parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa): "We are certainly going after more people. That was just a beginning - the list is long. Some people have left the company, but we will be pursuing them and possibly lay charges if it is found that there was criminal intent." The Scopa hearing - meant to determine the depth of financial mismanagement at the company - detailed cases of high level financial mismanagement, disregard for procurement process and questionable deviation from the tender processes used to loot the organisation. During the meeting, Molefe complained that the new board was not getting the cooperation it needed from the management of Transnet when it came to rooting out corruption and mismanagement. Read this report by Sibongile Khumalo in full at Fin24. Read too, Scopa calls for urgent action against allegedly corrupt Transnet officials, at EWN
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