In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
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Cosatu now backs mandatory vaccination, but some other unions still averse Fin24 reports that trade union federation Cosatu has changed its stance and now supports mandatory Covid-19 vaccination. On Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a government task team was looking into making vaccination against the coronavirus compulsory for specific activities and locations. Cosatu, which represents a group of labour unions aligned to the governing party, including unions in the public service, said that although it was initially opposed to forced Covid-19 vaccinations, its stance has changed. "Our position has evolved," spokesperson Sizwe Pamla indicated. Previously, the federation was openly opposed to the idea, as some companies – including Discovery, Old Mutual and Curro – as well as universities, moved to only allow vaccinated individuals on their premises. "Initially our position was 'let's persuade the people to vaccinate'. But the reality is that 2022 will be the third year of living with this deadly pandemic. We do not want another lockdown, we would rather have people forced to vaccinate than have another lockdown," Pamla explained. However, Cosatu’s position is not shared by all unions, including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which said it would fight tooth and nail to protect its members from the repercussions of resisting the jab, should it become compulsory to inoculate. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said while the jabs worked, it would also not support mandatory vaccination. Solidarity is also against mandatory vaccination. The head of the trade union's research institute, Connie Mulder, said there had cases where employers had already sneaked the practice through the back door and that there was legal ground to challenge such an approach. "We encourage people to vaccinate, but no one should be forced," he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo at Fin24. Read too, Labour federations express differing views on mandatory vaccination, at BusinessLive Nedlac to hold emergency meetings this week on vaccine mandates, access restrictions for unvaccinated Mining Weekly reports that the social partners in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) will hold emergency meetings this week about the institution of workplace vaccine mandates and the imposition of public access restrictions for the unvaccinated. This will be amid low vaccine uptake levels, the emergence of a new Covid variant, travel bans and growing signs of a fourth wave of infections. The meetings follow President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday that government had set up a task team that would undertake consultations on making vaccination mandatory for specific activities and locations. Ramaphosa said consultations had already been initiated regarding the introduction of measures that make vaccination a condition for access to workplaces, public events, public transport and public establishments. Business for SA’s (B4SA’s) Martin Kingston said business was encouraged by the formation of the task team and revealed on Monday that Nedlac meetings would be held this week to “work through the finer details” of vaccine mandates and access restrictions. Business Unity SA’s (Busa’s) CEO Cas Coovadia advised that business was also preparing to approach the courts for a declarator regarding the legality of workplace mandates, but indicated that this was unlikely to take place before early in 2022. In the interim, organised business would consider supporting those firms that might be facing legal challenges to the institution of workplace mandates. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read too, Business urges vaccine mandates to step up coverage ahead of fourth wave, at BusinessLive Business Unity SA to seek 'legal clarity' on mandatory vaccination policies Fin24 reports that organised business anticipates that employers will be legally challenged for implementing mandatory vaccination policies and so Business Unity SA (Busa) is preparing an application for a declaratory order on mandatory vaccinations. Busa is still consulting with its legal team and senior counsel on the matter. A declaratory order would give businesses "confidence" that if they did apply a mandatory vaccination policy it would be within the context of the law, explained Cas Coovadia, CEO of Busa. "'Our legal advisers are looking at cases that might come to court, where businesses [which have] applied mandatory vaccination are being challenged … If we can use some of those cases and throw our weight behind those and get legal clarity, then we will do so. The intention is to get legal clarity as soon as possible," said Coovadia. He argued that mandatory vaccination was part of employers' responsibilities to ensure a safe workplace and noted that in workplaces where vaccines were mandatory, there had been an increase in vaccination uptake. Coovadia reported that vaccination rates at Discovery, the first SA corporate to announce a mandatory vaccine policy for employees, had increased to about 94%, having been about 74% ahead of the company’s policy announcement. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lameez Omarjee at Fin24 'South Africans not just vaccine hesitant, they're apathetic,' top vaccinologist laments TimesLIVE reports that expert vaccinologist Prof Shabir Madhi says one of the main things holding back South Africans from getting vaccinated is not just hesitancy, but apathy. Madhi was sharing his insights during a Mail & Guardian webinar on Monday. With the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, SA is grappling with the question of whether to make vaccinations mandatory. “There’s a difference between forcing someone and making it mandatory. It’s not about individual choice but how it affects everything else. It needs to be put in the context of exercising rights and the overall risk to the entire environment. There can be a parting of ways if people choose not to be vaccinated. I believe one of the issues holding South Africans back from vaccinating is not just hesitancy, but apathy,” Madhi commented. He added that it could not be emphasised enough that vaccination was the only way people would not end up hospitalised, dead, or transmitting the virus. Earlier, health minister Joe Phaahla said there was no need for people to panic about the new variant because the country was prepared to deal with it. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgaugelo Masweneng at TimesLIVE Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu tests positive for Covid-19 IOL reports that Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu has tested positive for Covid-19. Her office made the announcement on Monday, after she received her results. Zulu immediately started isolating at home and is said to be continuing with her duties without any disruptions. She said it all started with a scratchy throat but she did not suspect anything. However, when the scratchiness in her throat persisted she went for a Covid-19 test and received her results on Monday morning. “I am feeling well and I can attribute this to the fact that the virus found me fully vaccinated,” Zulu said. Her contraction of the virus comes just as a new Covid-19 variant has been detected. The new omicron variant has been declared a ‘variant of concern’ by the World Health Organisation. “As President [Cyril] Ramaphosa emphasised last night (Sunday), vaccination is the most powerful tool we have and it is not too late to get vaccinated before the fourth wave hits us hard,” Zulu said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Two men charged with murder of cop who was gunned down during armed robbery appear in Cape Town court IOL reports that two men appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of murder after a police officer was gunned down on Friday during an armed robbery. Baxolele Matolo and Luyanda Futile appeared in court on charges of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery. The case against the men was postponed until 6 December for bail applications. Four suspects were arrested. The third co-accused did not appear in court as he remains in hospital under police custody. The fourth accused has been released without charge. The police were called out following a business robbery by four armed suspects on Friday. The suspects had been holding the staff of the business premises at gunpoint inside the building and started shooting at police as they fled. During the shootout, two police officers attached to the Table View police station and two of the armed robbers were wounded. Sergeant Nameto Molema was shot in the head while his colleague, Sergeant Malibongwe Mnani was shot in the leg. Molema died upon arrival at the hospital. At the weekend, community members, organisations and security forces in the Table View area all commemorated the slain officer by hanging ribbons and cards on the police station gate. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Striking unions vow to ‘cripple’ Clover over wages and retrenchments disputes BL Premium reports that unions have vowed to “cripple” operations at dairy producer Clover ahead of the busy festive season after a deadlock with management over above-inflation wage increases, retrenchments, and other conditions of employment. The General Industries Workers Union of SA (Giwusa) and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) — both affiliates of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) — downed tools last Monday and embarked on an indefinite strike for a wage increase of 10%. The company initially proposed a wage increase freeze but subsequently revised its offer to 4.5%, which the unions have rejected. The two unions apparently represent about 5,000 workers at Clover, which was delisted from the JSE after a takeover in 2019 by the Milco consortium, led by Israeli manufacturer and distributor of beverages Central Bottling Company (CBC). According to Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei, one of the conditions competition authorities had imposed on the takeover by Milco was that there “must be no retrenchments at Clover until October 2022”. “Now they are going against that condition and are retrenching over 1,400 workers nationally. They are also planning on closing some of their factories as well,” he claimed. Fawu’s Mayoyo Mngomezulu said that employees had been given a choice to either agree to a 20% wage cut or be retrenched. “They were given a deadline of November 26. The non-unionised workers signed the ultimatum and went back to work. But the union members refused and elected to go on strike. We are saying these retrenchments are illegal and we are going to fight them through the court process. In the meantime, the strike continues. It’s indefinite, actually,” he stated. Sebei said workers were also unhappy that the company wanted to make working on public holidays compulsory; introduce a six-day working week (from five days), and implement a one driver, one assistant policy, instead of two assistants at present. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) In2Food workers in Strand down tools over wages, work hours Weekend Argus reports that workers from food and beverage manufacturing company In2Food in Strand, Cape Town, downed tools and held a protest from as early as 5 am on Monday. They were complaining about long working hours, intimidation of workers and wage increases. The protesters burnt tyres and barricaded Broadlands Road leading to In2Food. Public order police fired stun grenades and rubber bullets in an attempt to open the road. The company manufactures food and beverages for retail companies such as Woolworths and has eight branches in the provinces. It also distributes internationally. Llowelyn Domingo of the National Certificated Fishing and Allied Workers Union (NCFAWU) indicated: “We are here because of a wage dispute. Other matters include long working hours and salary increases. In2Food management has been approached on more than once occasion by the unions. We tabled a 12% increase, but the company came with tricks and implemented a 4% increase without agreeing with anyone.” Doming said workers wanted to work a normal nine-hour day shift, but the company had said negotiations were closed. He added: “They said they will lock out everyone until they decide they want to come back to work. When they return to work they will be asked to sign an agreement that they agree with the long hours and salary increase implemented, irrespective of how they feel.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Velani Ludidi at Weekend Argus
Protesters in Gqeberha threaten company for employing immigrants GroundUp reports that members of the Nelson Mandela Metro Community Forum in Gqeberha have vowed to stop Alurite, a metal and plastic recycling facility, from functioning because it employs immigrants. On Tuesday last week, about forty people protested for the second time outside the company demanding that it should dismiss immigrants and employ South Africans. The previous protest was on 21 October. The protesters held a huge, professionally printed banner on which was written in capital letters: “#PutSouthAfricansFirst. Secure our borders now!!! South Africa is not a refugee camp. Jobs and business opportunities for South Africans first.” Protest leader Sibusiso Matyolo said: “We are saying that unemployment in the metro is very high. This company employs more foreigners than local South Africans. We are demanding that they should change the ratio of employment in favour of South Africans.” Matyolo went on to threaten: “We will continue protesting at the main gate of the company until our demands are met. We will call all unemployed residents of the metro to come and camp outside here. We are planning a major shut down to force the company to listen to our demands.” According to Matyolo, they returned to the site at 6pm to block workers from starting their night shift. He claimed police arrived and fired rubber bullets. Chris Mapingure of the Zimbabwe Migrants Support Network said the banner and the protest were dangerous and were “causing tensions in our peaceful communities”. He added: “We strongly condemn actions that place other people in danger of being attacked or assaulted. Most of our members have either work, business or asylum permits. The country’s laws allow companies to employ people with requisite qualifications and experience.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Joseph Chirume at GroundUp
Two rescued, three bodies recovered as Implats mud rush rescue operations conclude Engineering News reports that two mineworkers have been rescued and the bodies of three have been recovered at Impala Rustenburg 6 Shaft, which suffered an underground mud-rush incident. Search and rescue operations continued around the clock following the incident took place on Sunday. Eight search and rescue teams from Impala Rustenburg and other mining companies were engaged in clearing accumulated material in their search for the five missing employees, with the teams reaching the affected area by mid-afternoon on Monday. “It is with deep regret we report that the search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of three of our employees,” Implats advised. Two Implats employees were, however, successfully rescued from the area and transferred to hospital for treatment. “Their families are being informed. They are both in a serious but stable condition,” the Implats release indicated. All operations at Impala Rustenburg's 6 Shaft remain suspended and Implats continues to work closely with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and other stakeholders. The underground mud rush incident followed a separate incident at the 16 Shaft mining complex on Saturday, when a contract employee was fatally injured during underground drilling operations. “The impact of these events will probably permeate the entire lease area and potentially to other shafts. We will have to assess and prevent similar risks from occurring at any of the operations,” Implats CEO Nico Muller told a media conference on Monday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Petrol to hit more than R20 a litre for the first time from 1 December BusinessLive reports that petrol will cost over R20 a litre when fuel price hikes are implemented on Wednesday. Both grades of petrol will increase by 81c to bring the retail price of 95 unleaded to R20.35/l and 93-unleaded to 20.13/l in Gauteng. These are new record highs in a year that has seen a series of fuel price hikes. It will now cost R1,017.50 to fill a 50l tank compared with R743 in January when a litre of 95 unleaded cost R14.86. Diesel will now cost R17.92/l (high-sulphur) and R17.98/l (low-sulphur). The Central Energy Fund attributed the increases to the rising oil price and the weakened rand during the period under review. In addition the minister of mineral resources and energy has approved a net increase of 17.84c/l in the annual margin adjustments on petrol and a net increase of 8.20c/l on diesel and illuminating paraffin wholesale prices. A slate levy of 41.66c/l — an increase of 26.3c/l — is also being implemented for petrol and diesel with effect from 1 December. This is in line with the provisions of the self-adjusting slate levy mechanism, which saw the combined cumulative petrol and diesel slate balances at the end of October 2021 amounting to a negative balance of R4.689bn. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Denis Droppa at BusinessLive
Almost 80% of Mango employees apply for voluntary severance packages Fin24 reports that a total of 553 of Mango's 708 employees, or 78%, have applied for voluntary severance packages (VSPs) offered as part of the low-cost airline's business rescue process. This amounts to 86% of Mango's monthly salary bill of about R27 million. In addition, the contracts of employees who were hired on a fixed term have been terminated, according to the latest status report published by the rescue practitioner Sipho Sono. Mango's creditors will get to vote on an amended business rescue proposal on 2 December. Mango went into voluntary business rescue at the end of July this year and has not flown since. It owes R2.85 billion to creditors, and also has about R183 million of unflown ticket liabilities. Mango's shareholder, SA Airways (SAA), has stipulated that funding it provides should not be used for Mango to resume operations. Because Mango is currently not in a position to resume operations without such funding, Sono says he has had to offer VSPs to all employees except a few critical positions required to keep the airline "on care and maintenance". Earlier this year Mango was given R819 million from a special allocation approved by Parliament from R10.5 billion given by Treasury for SAA's own business rescue process. Mango has since received R100 million of the R819 million which it used for payment of salaries for July 2021 to September 2021 and 50% of salaries for October 2021. According to the latest report, a further amount of R320 million was received on 26 November to fund the VSPs "and other restructuring costs". The balance of R399 million is expected to be paid soon after the adoption of the amended proposed rescue plan. Sono remains of the opinion that there is a reasonable prospect of Mango being rescued. But, if an investor is not secured swiftly and Mango is not able to continue trading for whatever reason, Sono would have to start with a structured winding down of the company. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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