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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
|
Untu accepts Transnet’s wage offer and calls off industrial action, while Satawu members are still out on strike BL Premium reports that state-owned logistics company Transnet has reached a new three-year wage deal with its majority union, the United National Transport Union (Untu). The agreement will ease congestion at SA ports as more than half the workforce returns to work. The strike, which entered its second week on Monday, has disrupted railways and ports and affected key sectors of the economy. Untu, which represents 24,992 members in the Transnet bargaining council, on Monday signed the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) below-inflation deal, which includes a 6% increase for the lowest paid worker in year one and a medical aid and housing allowance increase. The union had demanded a 12% increase. “The agreement, which applies to all bargaining unit employees, including those who are not members of Untu, is effective from 1 April 2022 and will be implemented from 1 October 2022,” Transnet indicated. Members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), a minority union at Transnet, are still on strike and have rejected Transnet’s revised wage offer of up to 5.3% across the board. “We are still engaging with our members, we haven’t accepted any offer ... All Satawu members have rejected the offer,” Satawu general secretary Jack Mazibuko indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Transnet announces three-year deal with key union after brutal strike, at Fin24 Terms of Untu’s three-year wage deal with Transnet Moneyweb reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) has signed a three-year wage agreement with Transnet, bringing the union’s 12-day strike to an end. According to Transnet, the agreement, which provides for a range of increases of between 5.5% and 6%, applies to all bargaining unit employees, including those who are not members of Untu. The agreement will be effective from 1 April 2022 and will be implemented from 1 October 2022. The deal contains the following provisions: Year 1 - A 6% increase in the basic wage for levels H to L, and 6% on the annual cost-to-company package for level G; Year 2 - A 5.5% increase in the basic wage for levels H to L, and 5.5% on the annual cost-to-company package for level G; Year 3 - A 6% increase in the basic wage for levels H to L, and 6% on the annual cost-to-company package for level G; An increase in the medical aid subsidy, in line with the increases in the basic wage, over the duration of the agreement (the increase in medical subsidy for the 2022/23 financial year will be implemented from 1 October 2022); An increase in the housing allowance commencing from the year 2023/24; Back-pay for the period 1 April to 30 September 2022 to be paid in two tranches, namely three months’ back-pay on 15 November 2022, and three months’ back-pay on 16 January 2023. In a statement on Sunday, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) indicated: “The organisation has rejected the 6% increment by the employer as per the mandate of the workers. Until the workers give us a new mandate, the strike continues.” However, Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi pointed out: “The agreement includes all bargaining unit employees, Satawu, the minority unions and the non-unionised ones.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nondumiso Lehutso at Moneyweb 'They keep betraying the workers', says Satawu on Untu’s wage deal with Transnet EWN reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) sees the acceptance by fellow union Untu of a wage agreement with Transnet as a betrayal. Untu (United National Transport Union), which enjoys the support of 54% of the bargaining unit employees at the state-owned logistics company, has entered into a three-year agreement. However, Satawu said that it remained on strike because the increase was simply not enough. Union spokesperson Amanda Tshemese commented: "We actually expected this from Untu because that's what they did in our previous negotiations. They keep on betraying and failing the workers of this country. We remain on our picketing lines as we do not have an agreement with our employers." The agreement between Transnet and Untu includes a 6% increase in year one (back-dated to April this year), a 5.5% increase in the second year and a 6% increase in the third year. The strike has seen ports, including Cape Town and Durban, come to a halt, with massive loses in revenue for companies using Transnet's facilities. Transnet said that it would now work to clear the backlog at its ports, but Satawu said that its workers would not be on duty. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ray White at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Saccawu on the verge of striking at Makro as wage dispute drags on Fin24 reports that according to the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu), it is on the verge of striking at Makro after wage negotiations with the retailer degenerated into a four-month dispute. Amongst the union’s demands is a 12% wage increase across the board or an increase of R900, whichever is greater. Members are also demanding an R8,000 minimum wage, a 20% commission for salespersons, a thirteenth cheque, as well as a moratorium on retrenchments for the duration of the wage deal. The union said in a statement that more than 5,000 Makro employees were preparing to go on strike over the non-resolution of wages and working conditions at the company's warehouses. The union reported that it had finished reporting back to membership around the country and had received a mandate to embark on a strike indefinitely. According to Saccawu, Makro has only offered a 4.5% increase to workers. Massmart's Brian Leroni said Makro had not received any communication from the union regarding arrangements for a strike. "Our understanding is that Saccawu is in the process of conducting a strike ballot and that to date just four stores have participated in the balloting process," said Leroni. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
‘Crime renders round-the-clock clinics in Limpopo dangerous’ SowetanLive reports that health workers in Limpopo are afraid to work night shift due to violent attacks experienced by staff at the province’s clinics and hospitals. According to the provincial health department, at least 45 incidents of violence, including armed robberies and assaults, were reported at health facilities in Limpopo between 2018 and 2022. Robberies have been reported at facilities like the Gezimani, Phadzima and Mphambo clinics in Vhembe Districts, while a male nurse was assaulted at Sambandou Clinic in June. Mulatedzi Ramaano of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union said nurses feared working at night due to rampant crime and poor security. “We are being painted badly as nurses but how do we serve the community when we do not feel safe,” he asked. Nehawu’s Moses Maubane said the department must beef up security to avoid depriving communities of crucial health services while ensuring the safety of workers. He said crime was a reality everywhere, but that was not an excuse to close down 24 hour services. “That cannot be an excuse to deprive communities. The department must provide additional security measures,” he said. Limpopo health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said even the most dedicated health workers were growing more afraid of working at night. “They fear for their safety; they fear for their lives. Once these criminals overpower the security personnel, they can then do as they please like we have seen in many instances where they rob, kidnap, assault and even rape,” Shikwambana lamented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zoe Mahopo at SowetanLive Need for security measures at police stations to be intensified following latest cop killings The Star reports that calls are growing for more measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of police officers and police stations. This after more reports of officers falling victims of crime in Gauteng. Two officers were brutally killed at Angelo Squatter Camp, Boksburg on Thursday night last week in what is believed to have been an ambush. They were responding to a complaint of an unnatural death in the area when they were accosted by three males. The suspects, who fled the scene on foot, took off with the deceased officers’ service pistols and bullet-proof vests. No arrests have been made yet. Following recent incidents, some citizens took to social media and suggested that security guards should be deployed at police stations. However, Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) disagreed, saying police officers were trained and armed, and there was no need for security guards at police stations. Newham said the best way to improve officer safety was to have a detailed investigation for every incident. This was not only to identify the attackers to ensure that they were arrested and charged for assault and murder, but also to understand the context in which the attack took place so that there could be a better understanding of the kind of factors that placed police officers at risk so that they could be trained in such a way as to enhance safety. But, Police and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) spokesperson Richard Mamabolo noted that to date there have been over 35 reported cases of killings of police who were on duty, with many more having been killed off duty, while others sustained career-threatening injuries and were left disabled. “This trend continues unabated, with the SAPS management having failed to come up with a plan to curb such incidents,” he claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntombi Nkosib at The Star
Grim outlook for diesel, petrol prices in November News24Wire reports that with two weeks left before November's fuel prices are fixed, the latest information from the Central Energy Fund shows that diesel and petrol prices currently look set for increases. Based on the latest data, diesel prices are on track for a hike of R1.58 to R1.61 a litre. This would push the Gauteng price of diesel above R25.60 a litre. A year ago, Gauteng diesel price cost around R17.20 a litre. The price of 95 unleaded petrol is expected to increase by around 42c a litre, while the price of 93 petrol could rise by 51c a litre. The fuel prices are usually adjusted on the first Wednesday of a month and determined by the price of oil and the rand-dollar exchange rate. Movements in the oil and the rand over the next two weeks will still influence the final fuel prices for November. While petrol prices have fallen more than 16% from a record high in July, diesel prices have only retreated by 5% and are proving much stickier due to a squeeze on diesel supplies worldwide. In SA, continuing problems with the railways have increased truck deliveries – fuelling the local demand for diesel. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News. Lees ook, Brandstofpryse gáán styg; vraag is hoeveel, by Maroela Media
No SABS board or full-time CEO for four years as government 'can't find skilled people' Fin24 reports that according to Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel, his department has struggled to find qualified candidates to appoint to the board of the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS), which has been in administration for over four years. The bureau was placed into administration in July 2018 by then-minister Rob Davies after he lost confidence in its directors. Davies axed the group's board for "underperformance". But what was supposed to be a temporary fix lasting around six months has now dragged on for four years and four months. As a result, since July 2018 the SABS, which develops and maintains standards for SA businesses, has functioned without a permanent board or a full-time chief executive officer. Three administrators were appointed by Davies and two remain. In a briefing to Parliament's oversight committee last week, Patel said his department had struggled to find candidates with "requisite technical expertise" wanting to serve as directors. "Before the end of this financial year … it is our intention to announce a new board of SABS," he indicated. Once appointed, the new board will choose a permanent CEO. Patel spoke after a briefing by the office of the Auditor-General (AG), which noted that the absence of a full-time board and permanent CEO had led to instability. "[The bureau is facing] human resource challenges due to loss of critical skills, long-standing critical vacancies and inadequate capacity," the AG's office pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24
Dis-Chem withdraws moratorium on hiring of whites Fin24 reports that Dis-Chem has done an about turn and has withdrawn an internal memorandum to staff from its founder and CEO Ivan Saltzman that called for a moratorium on hiring white people at the group. The pharmaceutical retailer, whose original memo was aimed at improving its employment equity targets, said in a "communique" from its board that it regretted offending staff and customers, and vowed to improve internal processes around what it communicated in the future. In the memo to senior management dated 19 September, Saltzman had announced the moratorium, which included external appointments and internal promotions. After initially standing by the memo on Friday, the company said on Monday it regretted the "wording and tone" of the memo, adding it had "been erroneously widely shared". "We acknowledge that it did not reflect our values. Its release did not follow our correct internal vetting processes and steps have been put in place to ensure that, going forward, relevant checks and balances are thoroughly duly performed," the company indicated. It said that "more importantly" it regretted the "offence and distress it caused to so many people, including our staff and millions of loyal customers", adding it valued all its employees and appreciated their contribution to the group. In Monday’s statement, the group said it stood by "the unequivocal imperative to continue our transformation journey", adding that "equality, diversity and inclusivity are important throughout Dis-Chem". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at Fin24. Lees ook, Dis-Chem sê brief was ‘swak bewoord’, by Maroela Media
Cyril Ramaphosa drops new ministerial perks after public backlash BusinessLive reports that in a major climb-down amid a public backlash, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday withdrew a controversial policy which boosted the benefits and privileges for ministers and their deputies, including access to free electricity and water at their official residences. “President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the withdrawal of the ... ministerial handbook for 2022. The withdrawal will give effect to the 2019 version of the executive guide, pending a review,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, indicated on Monday. It was reported last week that the ministerial handbook had been amended to remove a cap on municipal utilities for ministers and deputy ministers, meaning that they would not pay a cent for electricity and water at their official residences. Cabinet ministers earn R2.4m a year, while their deputies are paid R2m. According to the previous handbook, the public works department was responsible for providing ministers and their deputies with water and electricity, provided the cost was limited to R5,000 a month. The outcry has been damaging for Ramaphosa, who when assuming office promised to rein in the runaway budget deficit by cutting executive spending and reducing the size of the cabinet. When the story broke, the government initially defended the ministerial perks, saying they were part of the package for ministers and their deputies who were living in state-owned houses in service of the country. Providing the rationale for the U-turn, Magwenya said Ramaphosa acknowledged the concerns raised by the public. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive. Lees ook, Ramaphosa herroep ministeriële handbook, by Maroela Media. As well as, 'The president listened': Ramaphosa withdraws new perks for ministers, calls for review, at News24
Post Office ordered to pay R4.5m in employees' outstanding medical aid contributions before end of week Fin24 reports that the Labour Court has ordered the SA Post Office (Sapo) to pay R4.5 million in employees' outstanding medical aid contributions to medical aid provider Medipos before the end of the week. This after trade union Solidarity received an interim judgment in its favour after taking the Post Office to court. Sapo has consistently been struggling to cover the arrears in employee contributions since at least last year and has even partially used revenue and sought financial assistance from the government to make payments. Solidarity deputy general manager Anton van der Bijl said the Post Office had been mismanaged to the point where money deducted from salaries, specifically intended to be paid over, never got out of its bank account. Solidarity accused the Post Office of turning a blind eye to struggling employees and their legitimate questions about the contributions. Van der Bijl also said that while the union was relieved that the courts had reaffirmed the Post Office's responsibility, it should not have had to resort to such measures. Sapo spokesperson Johan Kruger said the current contributions for 2022 owed to Medipos were up to date, specifically the portion deducted from the employees' salaries as well as the two thirds paid by the SA Post Office. "Only historical debts remain. The medical aid benefits were reinstated on Thursday 13 October 2022. It is important to note that the Post Office has been paying over the one third of the medical aid contribution since 2021 – there have been short payments on the two thirds paid by the employer," said Kruger. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24
UCT council votes in favour of independent probe into vice-chancellor, chair News24 reports that a retired judge and and independent panel of four experts will decide whether University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, is guilty of misconduct. In a significant about-turn from a week ago, a majority of council members voted for Phakeng and UCT council chair, Babalwa Ngonyama, to be investigated. This came after Ngonyama yielded after intense pressure from university stakeholders concerned about an apparent governance crisis at the university. The panel will have to report back by 31 December. At the heart of its probe will be whether Phakeng and Ngonyama misled the university’s executive and senate about the reasons for the departure of deputy vice-chancellor for Learning, Professor Lis Lange. After a marathon session of infighting and stalling, the council decided late on Saturday evening to adopt the recommendation for an independent investigation to be implemented to probe the serious allegations made against Phakeng and Ngonyama. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles & Adriaan Basson at News24. Read too, How UCT council chair ignored calls for meeting for months, at GroundUp
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page