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.
Roundup of labour news on 9 June 2016
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In our Thursday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Wednesday, 8 June 2016.
Lynne Brown launches Eskom nuclear training initiative
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BDLive reports that Eskom has initiated a major training programme for nuclear operators, saying it will train 100 artisans as operators at its Koeberg plant to meet SA’s requirements in the future.
Amcu’s Joseph Mathunjwa accuses Northam of creating a hostile environment
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BDLive reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said on Thursday it would not allow its members at Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine to be coerced into returning to work until it was satisfied safety could be assured.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 8 June 2016
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Wednesday, 8 June 2016
‘Fatigue from working excessive hours killed young doctor in car crash’
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TimesLive reports that junior doctors are blaming shifts of 30 hours or more for the death in a car accident of young doctor Ilne Markwat.
Amcu yet to finalise platinum wage demand; R12,500 tweet a slogan not a final demand
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Reuters reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said a tweet on its Twitter feed stating that it would seek a R12,500 monthly minimum during upcoming platinum pay talks was not a final demand set by the union.
Netcare’s pharmacy outsourcing deal draws fire from union Hospersa
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BDLive reports that private hospital group Netcare’s plans to outsource its Medicross pharmacies and its hospital retail outlets to retailer Clicks have drawn the ire of independent pharmacists and union Hospersa.
SABC’s Hlaudi Motsoeneng mulls introducing staff uniforms
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In the course of an interview with City Press, SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng said he has been thinking that maybe the national broadcaster’s employees should have uniforms “so that they can understand unity.”
Singing South African firefighters in Canada refuse to work over pay
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CBC News reports that South African firefighters who made international headlines for singing when they arrived in Canada have now turned to protest songs over the wages they're being paid.
Samwu to march on Friday to Kouga municipal offices over grievances
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Kouga Express reports that SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members are set to march to the Kouga municipal building in Da Gama Street on Friday morning to hand over a list of grievances.
Numsa to strike in defence of MEIBC centralised collective bargaining
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Business Report writes that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is planning rolling mass action in defence of centralised collective bargaining, which could signal a further blow to the troubled steel industry.
Looming grain sector strike could put jobs on the line
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Business Report writes that economists warned on Wednesday that the proposed strike by the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) in the grain industry might lead to potential job losses in the sector as employers replaced workers with machinery.
Mineral Resources Minister to visit Northam on Thursday to quell tensions
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Business Report writes that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane will visit Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine today (Thursday) to try and quell tensions between organised labour.
A cop killed every four days in SA
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TimesLive reports that a police officer is murdered every four days in South Africa and 712 have been attacked this year, 81% of whom were on duty.
Situation at Northam’s Zondereinde mine remains tense, police on alert
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Mining Weekly reports that the management of Northam Platinum said talks would continue with all parties to resolve the current unrest at its Zondereinde platinum mine, in Limpopo, and ensure its employees returned to work.
Roundup of labour news on 8 June 2016
- Details
In our Wednesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Tuesday, 7 June 2016.
Employees to benefit from Telkom deal with unions
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BDLive reports that, in what it calls a "groundbreaking agreement" with labour unions, Telkom will set aside R750m for the 2017 financial year so as to give its employees incentives. It will also place a moratorium on retrenchments over the next two years.
NUM to decide at Wednesday mass meeting about returning to work at Northam
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Fin24 reports that members of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will decide on Wednesday if they will return to work at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine.
AB InBev defends cash proposal in respect of BEE scheme as objections mount
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Business Report writes that brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) on Tuesday moved to defend its proposal of a cash payment to participants in the SAB’s Zenzele black economic empowerment scheme.
No green light for Lily operations until buried container retrieved
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The Citizen reports that Lily Mine would be able to resume operations in about eight to 10 months when full funding has been obtained, but permission will not be granted until a container in which three employees has been trapped for months is retrieved.
Fawu members in grain industry set to down tools on Friday
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Business Report writes that the Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu), which represents some 85 000 workers across various food sectors, is set to go out on strike in the grain industry.
Fatality in fall of ground incident at Amplats’ Thembelani Mine
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Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) announced on Wednesday that an employee had been fatally injured in a fall of ground incident at its Khuseleka Shaft, Thembelani Mine, on Friday, 3 June 2016.
CWU close to inking Telkom collaborative partnership deal
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Business Report writes that Telkom’s conclusion of a new two-year collaborative partnership agreement with organised labour does not include the company’s largest union the Communications Workers Union (CWU).
Lily Mine accident investigation drags on
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SABC News reports that Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, says the investigation into what led to a massive collapse at a mine shaft and the disappearance of a container with three Lily Mine workers inside, is still underway.
Northam mineworkers say they won’t return to work until safety is assured
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Reuters reports that, after a spate of murders, workers at Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine said on Tuesday they would not return to work until management and police provided them with safety guarantees.
Satawu claims Teti Traffic to fire 105 workers over strike in May
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Business Report writes that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) says 105 of its members employed by Teti Traffic Services will be without jobs as of Thursday.
Claws out for cop killers‚ Hawks boss warns
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TMG Digital reports that Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) boss Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza has warned that the team investigating the killing of police officers will stop at nothing in its quest to bring the killers to book.
Nehawu halts strike at Free State University for further discussions
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Netwerk24 reports that Nehawu members at the University of Free State’s (UFS’s) Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses on Tuesday halted their strike so that new proposals can be discussed between the university and the union.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 7 June 2016
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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 June 2016
AB InBev improves terms of employee-share scheme in effort to satisfy Fawu
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Bloomberg reports that Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has proposed enhancing an employee-share programme after the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu) threatened to protest regulatory consent of its takeover of fellow brewer SABMiller.