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.
Working on Fire helicopter crashes, seriously injuring official on ground
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News24 reports that a Working on Fire (WoF) official is in a serious condition in Tygerberg hospital after a helicopter involved in a training exercise crashed in Bredasdorp, Western Cape, on Thursday afternoon.
Shoprite Checkers says it’s prepared for one-day strike by Saccawu on Friday
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Fin24 reports that according to retailer Shoprite Checkers, it is prepared for some of its workers downing tools on Friday, one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas.
Saccawu and Cosatu announce one-day strike at Shoprite Checkers on Friday
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TimesLive reports that the SA Commercial‚ Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) have announced a one-day nationwide strike by members at Shoprite Checkers on Friday (22 December 2017).
Six mining companies set to conclude silicosis settlement in early 2018
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BusinessLive reports that a settlement estimated at about R5bn is expected to be concluded early in 2018 by six mining companies following a class action brought by mine workers suffering from silicosis and occupational tuberculosis.
Increase in minimum wages for domestic workers and for contract cleaning workers from January 2018
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The Department of Labour has announced that in terms of a government gazette published on 15 December 2017, new minimum wages for domestic workers and for contract cleaning workers will come into effect from 1 January 2018.
Alliance partner warns Cyril Ramaphosa that Cosatu’s backing is no blank cheque
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BusinessLive reports that after Cyril Ramaphosa became ANC president on Monday evening, trade union federation Cosatu warned the new leadership of the ANC that Cosatu’s support was “not a blank cheque”.
Tshwane’s EPWP jobs ‘lottery’ puts 3,232 people in work from January
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Pretoria News reports that Tshwane executive mayor Solly Msimanga on Monday oversaw a transparent and fair lottery process for the recruitment of 3,232 workers into the city’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
SABC expects striking workers back on Tuesday after wage deal reached with CWU
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EWN reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) expects all of its striking workers to return to their posts on Tuesday after it reached a wage agreement with the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Three killed and eight injured when minibus taxi crashes off Joburg bridge
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ANA reports that three people were killed and eight others were injured, some seriously, when a minibus tax plunged off the Hendrik Potgieter bridge in Constantia Kloof in Johannesburg and ended up on its roof in the early hours of Sunday morning.
New minimum wage bill has gaping holes and seemingly won’t cover independent contractors
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City Press writes that the long-awaited National Minimum Wage (NMW) Bill has major holes that could undermine the purpose of a new universal wage floor.
What trade unions and big business say about the 5.23% electricity price hike
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BusinessLive reports on reactions to the National Energy Regulator of SA’s (Nersa’s) decision on Friday to allow Eskom to hike tariffs to customers by 5.23% in the 12 months to 31 March 2019, rather than the 19.9% it requested.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted from Friday, 15 December to Sunday, 17 December 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet from Friday, 15 December to Sunday, 17 December 2017.
SABC reaches 4.8% wage agreement with Bemawu, CWU consulting members
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News24 reports that the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu), one of two trade union at the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), has accepted a revised wage increase from the public broadcaster, and has called off its strike.
Amcu comes out swinging at Sibanye’s planned takeover of Lonmin and threatens mass action
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Miningmx reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has attacked the proposed takeover of Lonmin by Sibanye-Stillwater, threatening the kind of action in conjunction with local communities which Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman has flagged as a key threat to the deal.
Bail of R250,000 for Boksburg accountant charged with R460m fraud at medical equipment supplier
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TimesLive reports that the Johannesburg Special Commercial Crimes Court on Friday granted Hildegard Steenkamp‚ 43‚ who is accused of defrauding her former employer of R460-million in her 13 years at the company‚ bail of R250,000.
Treasury saves Christmas for Denel staff by granting debt guarantee
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TimesLive reports that state-owned arms manufacturer Denel has told unions it will have money to pay employees their salaries on 22 December‚ after treasury granted it a debt guarantee.
Western Cape teacher among the 50 best in the world
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Cape Argus reports that Wendy Horn, Principal of Protea Heights Academy, a Maths and Science Focus School, is one of 50 finalists in the running for the Global Teacher of the Year Award 2017.
Sibanye-Stillwater takeover of Lonmin puts over 12,000 jobs at risk over next three years
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In a short note on Thursday, Reuters reported that platinum producer Lonmin and precious metal group Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday that more than 12,000 jobs would be cut over the next three years following a $382 million takeover of Lonmin by Sibanye-Stillwater.
Amcu announces wage agreement with Two Rivers Platinum Mine
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The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Wednesday issued a statement indicating that it had signed a wage review agreement with African Rainbow Minerals’ (ARM’s) Two Rivers Platinum Mine.
Solidarity ‘shocked and concerned’ that Denel might not pay December salaries
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity on Wednesday reported that State-owned defence industrial group Denel might not be able to pay its staff their salaries for December.
Pietermaritzburg paramedic: 'We are scared of the community we work for'
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GroundUp reports that on Tuesday, paramedics and trade unions members met at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg to discuss a campaign to end deadly attacks on ambulances.
Wage strike at SABC disrupts Ukhozi FM‚ one of SA's biggest radio stations
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TimesLive reports that Ukhozi FM‚ one of SA’s biggest radio stations‚ has since Thursday morning not been broadcasting any news bulletins due to a strike at the SA broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
Court rules stateless man may work and stay in SA pending reconsideration of application
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The Citizen reports that the High Court in Pretoria has granted an order to a stateless man allowing him to work and live in SA while the home affairs minister reconsiders his application for permanent residence.
Sibanye-Stillwater makes offer to acquire embattled Lonmin in all-share offer
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Mining Weekly reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater Group (SSG) has made an all-share offer to acquire platinum group metals (PGMs) producer Lonmin. The offer values Lonmin at about £285-million.
Human Rights Commission to probe allegations of racism at Unisa’s college of law
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The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed that it has received a request from the vice-chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa) asking it to intervene and deal with allegations of racism, sexism, and harassment at its college of law.
Remgro engages (courteously) with shareholders over executive pay
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BusinessLive reports that, after stern resistance to the nonbinding vote on remuneration policy at a recent annual general meeting, Remgro’s engagement on Thursday with dissenting shareholders on the matter lasted only 20 minutes.
Health official organised hit men to kill CEO and IR manager of Soweto hospital
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TimesLive reports that a clerk employed by the Gauteng department of health has been convicted of conspiring to murder the CEO and the labour relations manager of the Bheki Mlangeni Regional Hospital in Soweto.
Charges dropped against two men arrested for killings of Amcu officials in Marikana
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eNCA reports that charges have been dropped against the two men arrested in connection with the killing of Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) officials in Marikana.
Limited rail service restored on Metrorail's Cape Town central line
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Cape Argus reports that due to the efforts of Metrorail's technical teams, who have managed to repair the twenty-three track boxes destroyed by vandals on Sunday, the suspension of Cape Town’s Khayelitsha-Kapteinsklip-Bishop Lavis line has been lifted.
SABC’s middle-management officials, freelancers asked to join Thursday’s wage strike
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EWN reports that that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) indicated on Wednesday that it was in talks with middle-management officials and freelancers at the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to get them to join planned industrial action on Thursday.