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.
Pilots’ association reaches in principle agreement with SAA, striking members to ballot over weekend
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Airways (SAA) pilots’ association has reached an in-principle agreement with the national carrier to end a strike and enter retrenchment processes .
Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo dies of Covid complications
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BusinessLive reports that City of Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo has died of complications after contracting Covid-19. He tested positive in June.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 9 July 2021
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In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Thursday’s official launch at Waterkloof Base of SANDF Covid-19 vaccine roll-out postponed, but vaccinations to continue in others areas
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Pretoria News reports that the official launch of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Covid-19 vaccine roll-out was postponed on Thursday due to technical challenges.
Survey finds coronavirus vaccine hesitancy waning as rollout gathers pace
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BL Premium reports that a growing proportion of SA adults say they are willing to get a coronavirus vaccine if one is offered to them, reflecting increasing confidence in the shots as the country’s inoculation drive gets under way.
Local government bargaining council to mediate in municipal pay dispute
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BL Premium reports that the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (Salgbc) will this month attempt to resolve pay talks between municipalities and workers after all parties involved in negotiations declared disputes.
State Security Agency suspends Robert McBride
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TimesLIVE reports that the State Security Agency (SSA) has confirmed that Robert McBride, the head of the foreign branch of the agency, has been suspended.
Police officer about to be arrested shoots and kills himself at Mfuleni police station after scuffle with fellow cops
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Cape Argus reports that a deadly drama unfolded at Mfuleni police station on Tuesday after a police officer who was about to be arrested allegedly shot and killed himself after scuffling with fellow officers.
Ekurhuleni fake doctor who sold fake sick notes arrested with his ’patient’
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Independent Media reports that an Ekurhuleni man who was allegedly masquerading as a doctor and selling medical certificates was arrested together with his “patient” and the man who referred the patient to him.
Sibanye-Stillwater receives first batch of Covid-19 vaccines
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Fin24 reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater has received 3,500 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine after the company received approval from health authorities to conduct inoculations at its medical facilities.
Mine deaths rose 33% in the first half 2021, continuing a spike in deaths which began last year
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Reuters reports that SA’s mines recorded 32 deaths in the first half of 2021 compared with 24 during the same period in 2020, continuing a spike in deaths which began last year.
Democratic Alliance MP Cameron Mackenzie dies after Covid-19 battle
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Independent Media reports that Democratic Alliance (DA) chief whip Natasha Mazzone announced on Thursday ’’with great sadness’’ that her colleague Cameron MacKenzie had died after a ’’severe battle’’ with Covid-19.
Health department says it has concluded medical intern placements
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News24 reports that the Department of Health (DOH) says it has concluded allocating the final batch of medical graduates for in-service training.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 8 July 2021
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In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Treasury warns that wage offer to public servants will break compensation ceiling and mean reductions in key service delivery budgets
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EWN reports that national Treasury has confirmed that the government’s latest wage offer to public servants would break the compensation ceiling.
Government again defends hiring of Cubans in jobs-starved SA
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The Citizen reports that SA medical specialists, doctors, engineers, mechanics and teachers have been urged by the authorities not to fret about the Cuban specialists that have been brought into the country and paid billions for their skills.
Make-or-break time as local government wage fight heads for arbitration
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Fin24 reports that two days of arbitration at the SA Local Government Bargaining Council between the SA Local Government Association (Salga), the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union will start later this month.
June salaries of ANC employees still not paid
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EWN reports that following several commitments to urgently address the non-payment of salaries, the African National Congress (ANC) has once again left its staffers high and dry.
Newcastle Municipality replaces sacked workers despite long-delayed court proceedings by aggrieved ex-employees
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The Mercury reports that in an attempt to kick-start service, the Newcastle Municipality has announced the filing of over 100 posts that have been vacant for more than 18 months after the municipality dismissed the workers.
Surging death toll fails to convince vaccine-wary South Africans, with lack of communication and misinformation contributing factors
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Bloomberg News writes that South Africans are hesitant about having Covid-19 vaccinations despite the increasing fatality rate in the country.
Nehawu’s decision on latest public service wage offer expected on Thursday
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Independent Media reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) will decide at a special national executive committee (NEC) on Thursday on the government’s latest public service wage offer.
Study shows healthcare workers hospitalised with Covid-19 less likely to die than non-healthcare workers
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TimesLIVE reports that a new study has found that healthcare workers (HCWs) were less likely to die after being hospitalised with Covid-19 than non-healthcare workers.
With 400,000 teachers jabbed so far, Basic Education seeks extension of education vaccination programme
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News24 reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) wants the Covid-19 vaccination programme for teachers and support staff to be extended.
Mango staff in limbo almost two weeks after June salaries not paid
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The Citizen reports that nearly two weeks after their 25 June payday, staff at budget airline Mango are still in the dark about when they will be paid for the month.
Two more George municipal employees die, bringing municipality’s Covid-19 death toll to nine
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News24 reports that two more George municipality officials have died from Covid-19 complications, bringing to nine the number of staff members who have died during the pandemic.
SANDF to begin vaccinating its members on Thursday
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News24 reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) will launch its Covid-19 vaccine programme on Thursday.
Tshiamiso Trust to start paying out valid silicosis and tuberculosis claimants soon
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Business Report writes that the Tshiamiso Trust, which is responsible for carrying out the terms of the R5bn settlement between six mining companies and thousands of gold mine workers who contracted silicosis and tuberculosis in SA mines, said on Tuesday that it had been successful in reaching claimants and the beginning of the flow of payments was imminent.
About 90% of private school staff vaccinated, as unions urge teachers to be 'vaccine ambassadors'
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News24 reports that Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa executive director Lebogang Montjane and National Alliance of Independent Schools Associations chairperson Mandla Mthembu have expressed their satisfaction with the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Autopax’s Translux and City to City bus services to shed 350 jobs
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Independent Media reports that Zolani Matthews, chief executive of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), has announced plans for the agency’s bus operating subsidiary Autopax Bus Service, which operates long distance busses Translux and City to City, to shed 350 jobs.
Health department defends decision to let special groups jump Covid-19 vaccine queue
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BL Premium reports that Nicholas Crisp, deputy director-general for National Health Insurance, has defended the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) decision to enable special categories of people to apply for the Covid-19 vaccination ahead of schedule.