Today's Labour News
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.
Unpaid drivers of Thari Bus Service call on government to intervene
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EWN reports that amid the national bus strike, drivers at the Thari Bus Service in the North West claim they have not been paid for the past month.
Soccer fan accused of kicking stadium guard in the face to plead guilty, granted bail
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Timeslive reports that three alleged soccer hooligans nabbed in the wake of a pitch invasion at the Moses Mabhida Stadium two weeks ago have signalled they are set to plead guilty.
Lawyer expects gold miners' silicosis settlement to be signed on Thursday
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Reuters reports that according to a lawyer acting for nearly half a million miners who contracted fatal lung diseases silicosis and tuberculosis in gold mines, an out-of-court settlement was expected to be signed on Thursday with those producers implicated in the issue.
Gauteng Health Department says labour issues at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital resolved
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EWN reports that the according to the Gauteng Department of Health, all services at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg would operate normally on Wednesday, following protests last week.
Pay hike to impact bus fares, bosses warn striking driver
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The Star reports that bus companies say that if they agree to the demands of striking workers, they might have to increase their fares. Bus drivers have been in a three-week-long strike over salary increases.
Cosatu ‘would welcome Numsa back’, says S’dumo
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BusinessLive writes that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first Workers’ Day address on Tuesday was overshadowed by talk of a reunion between labour federation Cosatu and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).
Sibanye vows to do things differently at Lonmin, but won’t be taking over responsibility for Marikana
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Fin24 reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater, which is in the process of buying out Lonmin, has vowed to do things differently when it finally takes over the company, although it won’t take responsibility for the Marikana massacre.
Ramaphosa calls at May Day rally for equal pay for men and women
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ANA reports that ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday called for equal pay for men and women in SA. He was speaking at a Cosatu May Day rally held at a packed Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth, where he was warmly received by the crowds.
Two ANC NEC members counsel that Cosatu should reconsider its stance on Numsa
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BusinessLive reports that according to two senior ANC NEC members, labour federation Cosatu should reconsider its stance on the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).
Workers' Day commemorated on Tuesday by unions and political parties
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News24 reports that as the country commemorated Workers' Day on Tuesday, political parties, trade unions and Parliament said more still needed to be done for SA’s working class. Rallies were held across the country in celebration of the country's workers.
Saftu remembers victims of 2003 May Day bus tragedy
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News24 reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) says Workers' Day is an occasion not only to celebrate workers' victories, but also to remember those who died in one of the most horrific accidents in the country's history.
Blade slams criticism of national minimum wage rate as 'opportunistic reaction'
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BusinessLive reports that SA Communist Party (SACP) general secretary Blade has described criticism of the national minimum wage (NMW) rate of R20 per hour as an "opportunistic reaction".
Solidarity to file its SAA business rescue court papers on 15 May
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Moneyweb reports that South African Airways (SAA) needs R5 billion immediately, which is in addition to the R10 billion it got from the fiscus in the previous financial year to restore its status as a going concern.
Saftu issues ultimatum to bus companies or national shutdown will be called
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ANA reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) on Tuesday threatened a national shutdown should bus companies not heed striking workers’ demands by the end of the week.
Ramaphosa receives warm reception at Cosatu’s May Day rally in Port Elizabeth
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News24 reports that the jubilant screams and cheers for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa at Cosatu’s May Day rally were a stark contrast to last year’s heckling of then president Jacob Zuma.
SA loses out on Trump's steel tariff exemption, putting local jobs at risk
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Fin24 reports that the United States has not granted South Africa an exemption on its increased steel and aluminium tariffs, after the department of trade and industry (DTI) made two written representations to the US government on the matter.
Amcu wants Workers' Day moved to anniversary of Marikana massacre
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News24 reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) did not commemorate Workers' Day this year.
Workers walk out as S’dumo delivers his May Day speech in Port Elizabeth
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BusinessLive reports that hundreds of workers at Cosatu’s main May Day rally gathering in Port Elizabeth staged a walk out as the labour federation’s President S’dumo Dlamini delivered a keynote address.
National bus strike over wages enters second week
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Timeslive and eNCA report that as the national bus strike enters its second week, bus commuters will have to continue making alternative transport arrangements.
Numsa, Transform RSA seek to appeal R1.5m costs order in their failed IPP interdict bid
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Timeslive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and Transform RSA find themselves with R1.5m debt after an application to stop the signing of the agreement between the minister of energy and 27 independent power producers (IPPs) was dismissed with costs.
Labour federations call for action against unemployment and poverty ahead of May Day rallies
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BusinessLive reports that labour federations have again called on the government to prioritise the development of solutions to the country’s unemployment, inequality, poverty and corruption problems.
Bus driver critically injured after smashing into back of truck on N1 near Allandale off-ramp
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ANA reports that a bus driver was critically injured when his bus crashed into the back of a truck on the N1 after the Allandale off-ramp in Midrand on Sunday morning.
DA slams striking workers for trashing Joburg’s Charlotte Maxeke hospital
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ANA reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Sunday that the disruptive actions of striking workers at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital were unacceptable and needed to be dealt with decisively.
Ramaphosa defends national minimum wage, but admits it’s not enough to live on
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ANA reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the proposed national minimum wage (NMW) of R20 per hour or R3,500 a month, saying it was a victory for workers.
Bus wage strike continues into long weekend as unions vow to ‘keep fighting’
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Fin24 reports that unions representing workers in the bus strike say that they have made compromises on their demands while employers have remained inflexible.
Public sector wages impasse puts President Ramaphosa in a bind
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Bloomberg writes that a standoff between the government and unions representing its 1.3 million workers over pay increases puts President Cyril Ramaphosa in a jam.
Nzimande to meet with unions on Thursday over nationwide bus strike
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EWN reports that Transport Minister Blade Nzimande is set to meet with unions involved in the bus drivers' strike on Thursday. Repeated attempts to bring an end to the countrywide industrial action have come to nothing.
Vavi threatens two-day general strike should government not heed Saftu’s demands
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ANA reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi on Wednesday warned the government to prepare for a two-day general strike.
Rioters chase doctors away from dying patients in North West
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Times Select reports that critically ill patients lay unattended as “tsotsis” denied staff access to Tshepong hospital outside Klerksdorp in the North West on Wednesday and asked doctors to pay R20 to enter their workplace.
Scramble for transport continues on Thursday as bus wage talks remain deadlocked
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eNCA reports that wage talks in the bus transport industry remain deadlocked as parties failed to reach an agreement during marathon meetings facilitated by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant on Wednesday.