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.
Ugu municipal workers’ strike ends, but taps still dry along much of South Coast
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BusinessLive reports that a strike by workers in KwaZulu-Natal’s Ugu district municipality ended on Monday, but water is still not available across much of popular tourist destinations on the South Coast.
Phiyega set to bounce back as head of anti-crime foundation linked to Popcru
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The Star reports that former national police commissioner Riah Phiyega is set to make a comeback as head of an anti-crime foundation linked to one of Cosatu’s biggest affiliates, Popcru.
NUM plans coal sector wage strike, no date yet set
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EWN reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) plans a coal sector strike after wage negotiations with mining firms represented by the Chamber of Mines (COM) became deadlocked.
Sibanye-Stillwater, three unions agree on three-year wage deal for Kroondal
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Mining Weekly reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater has cemented a three-year wage agreement with all three trade unions representing its workers at the Kroondal platinum-group metals operations.
Watershed court showdowns over Mining Charter get going on Thursday
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BusinessLive reports that the first of two legal showdowns between the Chamber of Mines (COM) and the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) starts in the High Court in Pretoria on Thursday over the interpretation of clauses around ownership in the first two iterations of the Mining Charter.
Stakeholder briefings on minimum wage and amendments to BCEA and LRA get underway
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BusinessLive reports that the Department of Labour will on Thursday begin its briefing sessions on the introduction of a national minimum wage (NMW) policy and proposed amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Labour Relations Act (LRA) with trade unions on Thursday.
Boy, 8, dies in ambulance after EMS crew ambushed on N2 in Cape Town
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News24 reports that an eight-year-old boy died on Wednesday morning when an ambulance transporting him to the Red Cross Hospital was ambushed and the crew robbed.
Icasa's alleged sex pest CEO gets golden handshake of 'almost R1m'
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News24 reports that despite allegations of sexual harassment against him, former CEO of the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), Pakamile Pongwana, received a ‘golden handshake’ of almost R1 million from the regulatory authority.
Construction worker dies after falling from fourth floor of construction site in Umhlanga
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News24 reports that a 29-year-old man died after falling from the fourth floor at a construction site in Umhlanga, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Tuesday.
Deaths spike in SA’s deep and dangerous mines
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Reuters reports that the 2017 death toll in SA’s mines has already surpassed the 2016 figure, ending nine straight years of falling fatalities in the world’s deepest mines and raising red flags for the industry, government and labour groups.
More allegations of racist bullying at Old Mutual
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Cape Times reports that more people have come forward saying there is racist bullying at Old Mutual, following the newspaper’s recent article on the issue.
Durban dock worker rescued after falling off ship
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The Mercury reports that that a female stevedore was rescued on Monday at the Port of Durban, after falling off a ship in the port.
Ex Nedbank employee charged with attempted murder after stabbing guard at Sandton HO
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TimesLive reports that a former employee of Nedbank was arrested and charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a security guard in reception at the bank's head offices in Sandton.
Motsoeneng refused leave to appeal SABC8 costs ruling: Solidarity
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ANA reports that former SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng and the former head of news Simon Tebele have been refused leave to appeal a Labour Court ruling instructing them to personally pay for the legal costs involving the dismissal of the so-called SABC8.
Bail D-Day on Wednesday for NUM member accused of attempted murder of Amcu member
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ANA reports that a member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), accused of the attempted murder of an Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) member, will know on Wednesday if his bail application bid has been successful.
Zimbabweans in race against time to get SA exemption permits
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TimesLive reports that thousands of Zimbabweans are having to queue for hours in a desperate race against time to retain their legal status in South Africa.
Whirlpool workers in KZN on strike over housing
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Business Report writes that at least 900 workers at global home-appliance manufacturer Whirlpool have downed tools in KwaZulu-Natal in support of their demand for housing.
Cidb concerned over 140,000 construction job losses thus far this year
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Engineering News reports that monitoring and evaluation project manager at the Construction Industry Development Board (Cidb), Ntando Skosana, on Tuesday described the loss of 140,000 jobs in the local construction industry between the first and third quarters of this year as “disheartening”.
Mbalula pledges appointment of police chief within weeks
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TimesLive reports that Police Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday that the country would have a new national police commissioner by the end of November.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on Tuesday, 7 November 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Tuesday, 7 November 2017.
As taxi strike commences, drivers block roads, burn tyres in Tshwane
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ANA reports that taxi drivers blocked several roads and burned tyres early on Wednesday morning in Pretoria as the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) protests against the government commenced.
Unions raise concern over increase in mining fatalities
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BusinessLive reports that the number of fatalities in SA’s mining industry has increased for the first time in 10 years. The Chamber of Mines has recorded the deaths of 76 mine workers who were killed in mine-related accidents between January and October 2017.
Amcu man in Brits court on Tuesday for unlawful possession of firearm, ammo
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ANA reports that an Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) member charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition appeared briefly in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Something has to give: pay government workers what they want, or employ less of them
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Bloomberg writes that SA faces a stark choice in the forthcoming state wage negotiations, namely risk strikes by as many as 1.3m government workers or meet their pay demands and jeopardise its credit rating.
New dispute lodged against SABC by Bemawu, with workers demanding 10% increase
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BusinessLive reports that after a failed attempt to force the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to increase workers’ salaries‚ the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) has re-lodged a dispute with the public broadcaster.
MPs back unions’ demand for senior correctional services and police posts to be filled
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BusinessLive reports that Parliament’s portfolio committee on justice and correctional services has expressed concern about the failure to fill critical posts in the cluster.
UNTU and Satawu submit demand to Transnet for 12% increase for each of next three years
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Business Report writes that the United National Transport Union (UNTU) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) on Monday submitted their consolidated wage demands to Transnet for a 12% salary increase for each of the next three years.
Changing labour market structure means no prospect of unemployment coming down
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TimesLive writes that the changing structure of SA’s labour market means the country is unlikely to see any reduction in its high levels of unemployment.
Lonmin faces possible strike by Solidarity members over recognition rights
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EWN reports that trade union Solidarity says it will approach platinum producer Lonmin by Wednesday to communicate its members' grievances around the treatment of skilled employees and what it says is the preferential treatment of members of the Association of Mineworkers and the Construction Union (Amcu) by the company.
Tshwane braces for taxi strike on Wednesday
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ANA reports that taxi commuters in Tshwane have been warned to find alternative means of transportation on Wednesday, with the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) expected to forge ahead with its planned protest against government.