Mid-morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 6 March 2015

In our Friday roundup, see summaries of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since mid-morning on Wednesday, 4 March 2015.

VAVI’S FATECosatu gives Vavi last chance to explain himselfBDLive reports that the leaders of labour federation Cosatu on Thursday told general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi he had one more chance to explain himself before they acted against officials implicated in a probe into the acquisition of Cosatu’s headquarters.Read more...Other internet posting(s) in this news category

  • There’s no fair hearing, just a witch-hunt, says Vavi, at Daily News
  • Vavi needs to realise life in Cosatu’s fold is over, at BDLive
  • Cosatu and Vavi: Visible (dis)unity in action, at Daily Maverick

OTHER COSATU NEWS

Cosatu’s cash crisis not just a drying up of Numsa subs but also misplaced priorities

Natasha Marrian writes that the cash crunch at labour federation Cosatu, which expects a R4m deficit in a year in which it has to bankroll an elective congress, was a long-time coming, but, while the drying up of subscriptions from the expelled National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has not helped, that is not the main reason behind the federation’s failing fortunes.

Read more...

New metalworkers’ union Limusa not replacing Numsa, says Cosatu

The new-formed Liberated Metalworkers' Union of SA (Limusa) was not replacing the expelled National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), labour federation Cosatu said on Thursday.

Read more...

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

  • Cosatu in the red, with over R15-million owed to it, at Mail & Guardian
  • Dlamini: Cosatu finance problems due to ‘bad decisions’, at City Press
  • Cosatu 'shocked' by ANC conference decision, at Sowetan Live

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Findings of Tongaat mall inquiry to go to Director of Public Prosecutions

Jay Singh, the man behind the ill-fated Tongaat Mall, will have to wait until at least the end of May before he finds out who might be prosecuted in connection with the mall's collapse on 19 November 2013 when two people were killed and 29 injured.

Read more...

Tongaat mall was always safe, developer Singh tells inquiry

Durban businessman Jay Singh on Wednesday told the Department of Labour commission of inquiry investigating the Tongaat Mall collapse that the building site was always safe.

Read more...

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

  • Climbing this ladder no joke as workers live on the edge, at HeraldLive

MINING LABOUR

Khulubuse Zuma shirks responsibility for plight of Pamodzi mineworkers

Khulubuse Zuma on Thursday bemoaned statements by labour federation Cosatu and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) blaming him for the plight of Pamodzi Gold's former mineworkers.

Read more...

Gupta-owned JIC Mining refuses to reinstate mine captain, takes CCMA ruling on review

Fin24 reports that Clinton Cilliers from Rustenburg is set to receive a substantial sum in compensation from the Gupta-owned Westdawn Investments, trading as mining outsourcing company JIC Mining Services.

Read more...
Other general mining internet posting(s)

  • Anglo Platinum faces 30% mine-stake request from community, at Mineweb
  • Sale of assets AngloGold’s only realistic option, says Barclays, at Mineweb
  • Bail granted in R4m unwrought gold case, at News24
  • Mining sector ‘ripe for deals’, at BDLive
  • Police seize R20 million worth of gold in Springs, at SABC News
  • Implats appoints political, industry heavyweights to board, at Mining Weekly Online
  • X2 is hunting for mines, at Times Live

RETRENCHMENTS / RESTRUCTURING / JOB LOSSES

NUM reports that four mining firms want to cut 1 031 jobs in Northern Cape

Bloomberg Business reports that according to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), four mining companies in SA, including Assmang and Rockwell Diamonds, plan to cut 1,031 jobs between them at operations in Northern Cape.

Read more...

Liquidators of Cons Murch gold mine in Limpopo still seeking buyer to save jobs

SABC News reports that liquidators at Cons Murch mine outside Phalaborwa in Limpopo say they are still in a process of getting a new buyer for the troubled gold mining company.

Read more...
Other internet posting(s) in this news category

  • Telkom restructuring hits over 1,000 employees, at BusinessTech
  • Telkom moves on outsourcing plans, at ITWeb
  • PetroSA gaan tot 720 mense afdank, at Netwerk24
  • Petro SA denies staff reduction plans, at SABC News

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING / INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Cosatu’s seven public service unions in strike threat after state cuts wage offer to 4.8%

Business Report writes that, barely a week after Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene tabled his latest Budget, seven unions in the public service are threatening to strike over a salary increase.

Read more...

As Post Office turns to courts to stop another strike, ruling due today

The Star reports that the SA Post Office (Sapo) has filed an urgent application at the Labour Court for an interdict to stop a possible strike by workers affiliated to the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

Read more...

Samwu strike at Joburg Roads Agency (JRA) continues

The New Age reports that SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) members at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) are on strike and did not report for duty for a third day running on Wednesday.

Read more...

Vehicles and house of non-strikers at Joburg Roads Agency spray-painted

Sowetan reports that the house of a Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) employee has been spray-painted, allegedly by his striking colleagues.

Read more...

Strike halts construction work at Coega power plant

Herald Live reports that work on the Dedisa peaking power plant at Coega ground to a halt yesterday when angry workers downed tools claiming unfair labour practices from the main site contractor, Group Five.

Read more...

Municipalities, unions bang heads over pay rises in first round

Times Live reports that the first round of wage negotiations between the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) and the SA Local Government Association (Salga) is headed for deadlock after the employers’ offer, on behalf of 278 municipalities, of a 4.4% increase for the first year was rejected.

Read more...

Diepkloof mortuary strike over doctor’s return ends

The Star reports that calm has been restored to the Diepkloof government mortuary in Soweto after doctors at the facility returned to work following a two-day strike.

Read more...
THE ECONOMY / JOB CREATION

Hope between the stitches, as clothing industry hires for the first time in years

Nellie Brand-Jonker reports that, after years of sweating blood, the local clothing industry is seeing an upswing for the first time in a long while.

Read more...
EDUCATION / SKILLS / TRAINING / QUALIFICATIONS

Civil servants warned on qualification fraud

An increasing number of civil servants were lying about their qualifications, the communications department said on Wednesday.

Read more...

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

  • 640 SA public officials allegedly have fake degrees, at BusinessTech

WORKER FUNDS

Public comment sought on proposal to temporarily cut UIF contributions

BDLive reports that the Treasury indicated on Wednesday that Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene is seeking public comment on a proposal to temporarily reduce employer and employee contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Read more...
EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES

SABC worker lays assault charge against the broadcaster’s head of news

Mail & Guardian reports that the SABC's head of news, Jimi Matthews, has been accused of assaulting a female staff member outside Parliament during the State of the Nation Address.

Read more...
EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT / DISCIPLINE / CORRUPTION

Labour Minister confirms suspension of her legal services chief and 15 others

BDLive reports that Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has confirmed that her department’s chief director of legal services, Adv Nkahloleng Phasha, remains suspended on full pay, making him one of 16 suspended departmental officials, costing R5.2m a year.

Read more...
SERVICE DELIVERY

Most municipalities dysfunctional, says Solidarity Research Institute in reply to Gordhan

In reality more than a third of South African municipalities were dysfunctional at various levels, trade union Solidarity said on Thursday.

Read more...
GENERAL REPORTS AND ISSUES

Deputy labour minister in car accident on Monday

The Star reports that Deputy Minister of Labour Patekile Holomisa was involved in a car crash in Transkei in which at least five people were injured.

Read more...
WEB LINKS TO LABOUR NEWS ARTICLES ON THURSDAY, 5 MARCH 2015

See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Thursday, 5 March 2015 at SA Labour News