Today's Labour News

Mail & Guardian reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has thrown its weight behind the strike of workers of Grindrod Logistics over retrenchments and the trend among companies to use casual labour as well as brokers.

The strike commenced just days after Transnet National Ports Authority announced that Grindrod Logistics’ holding company, Grindrod SA had won the bid to develop a R285m container terminal at the Port of Richards Bay. Saftu’s Trevor Shaku said last week that the federation “stands firmly” behind its affiliate, the Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union (Taswu), which on 21 June downed tools in protest against retrenchments and dismissals affecting more than 85 truck drivers. The decision to retrench workers and make them casual labour was motivated by “the profiteering motive, not because the business is struggling. Retrenchments are mostly considered when companies want to maximise their profits, and casualisation is the instrument that companies use to retain the quantity of labour without having to pay the requisite amount for that labour,” Shaku asserted. Taswu’s Mxolisi Hlengwa said the company had begun the cycle of retrenching workers “while introducing multiple sub-contractors also making labour brokers fashionable. This is a clear indication that the company wants to get rid of permanent staff.” According to the union, Grindrod had retrenched workers, only to later employ them through labour brokers. Hlengwa said Grindrod had claimed that it was not making profit, but had reported a 16% rise in profit in the 2023 financial year. He lamented that the retrenchments placed a strain on the affected employees and their families.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lyse Comins at Mail & Guardian

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