TOP STORY – PUBLIC SECTOR WAGE NEGOTIATIONS

Cosatu warns state’s delay in making a wage offer a recipe for public sector strike

BusinessLive reports that according to union federation Cosatu, the government’s delay in presenting a wage offer to public servants is a recipe for an unnecessary strike.  Claiming that negotiators have no mandate, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has again failed to present a wage offer to public sector unions, asking this time for a postponement until 7 December, .  The government was expected to report back to unions last Thursday after having requested a postponement in October.  The government has repeatedly failed to stick to deadlines, even though Finance Minister Gigaba has already publically set out the government’s budgetary plans.  It has been two months since the unions presented a wage demand for a 12% increase for employees on levels four to seven, 11% for those on levels eight to 10, and 10% for those on levels 11 and 12.  Cosatu’s lead negotiator and SA Democratic Teachers’ Union general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said workers were suffering from "deliberate bureaucratic inefficiency".  He cited the lack of political will by employers and a leadership crisis at the department as two of the reasons that would lead workers onto the streets.  The Public Service Association (PSA) said that it was puzzling that the government still claimed to have no position to present to labour.

Read this informative report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive. Read too, Nehawu warns of possible public service strike over wage negotiations delay, at The Citizen

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Game farmer charged with culpable homicide after worker shoots himself with darting gun

ANA reports that a Limpopo game farmer faces a charge of culpable homicide after a worker on a neighbouring farm accidentally shot himself with his darting gun at a farm near Lephalale.  Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the incident happened on Friday when the farmer, one of his labourers and the deceased were looking for a buffalo that had escaped from the farm.  Mojapelo indicated:  “According to a preliminary report, the alleged freak accident happened when the deceased, a 30-year-old Zimbabwean, allegedly shot himself at about 9am while walking in the company of the two, tracking down the buffalo.  He immediately started shivering and was rushed to a hospital in Polokwane, where he later died at about 12pm, apparently due to the effect of the animal-darting substance.  The matter was then reported at Polokwane Police Station.”  Mojapelo added:  “Legal gun owners are once again warned to always adhere to laws governing the handling of firearms, as the police will not hesitate to take strong actions against noncompliance.”

This report is at The Citizen

Safety concerns lead to shut down of production line at Pelindaba nuclear plant

The Citizen reports that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) shut down a radio isotope cancer treatment production line at the Pelindaba nuclear plant 10 days ago because of safety concerns.  The entire facility was not shut down.  Pharmaceutical firm NTP Radioisotopes, operated by the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), is responsible for manufacturing radioisotopes used for cancer treatment and also exports products to other countries.  The company has since suspended three senior executives.  The regulator’s spokesperson Gino Moonsamy said:  “We found that safety procedures were violated.  We were lucky that there was no over exposure to workers.  The site is continually inspected and monitored, and the company also has its own measures in place.”  The production line has not yet re-opened.  The regulator will meet with company representatives this week to monitor progress.

Read this report by Eric Naki and Yadhana Jadoo in full at The Citizen

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Boer, werker vasgebind voor wrede aanval, at Netwerk24 (limit on access)
• Werker moet luister hoe boer aangerand word, at Maroela Media

MINING LABOUR

Illegal miners in court on Monday in two separate cases

The New Age writes that the law is taking its course in two separate cases where illegal miners (zama zamas) were allegedly involved in violence which resulted in deaths.  A group of 17 zama zamas, who were arrested on Thursday last week after they opened fire on police in an open field in Boksburg, resulting in four of the miners being killed by the police, were due to appear in court on Monday .  A member of Ekurhuleni metro police was also slightly wounded in the face.  The arrested suspects will be charged with attempted murder, possession of illegal firearms and ammunition and illegal immigration as they are believed to be Lesotho nationals.  Meanwhile, the six illegal miners who allegedly killed a 41-year-old police sergeant near Cooke One plant mining shaft in Randfontein on Thursday will also appear in court on Monday for murder.  The policeman died on the scene after he was shot in the upper body.  He was a member of the Johannesburg mounted unit which was on duty patrolling the mining area.  On a follow up investigation, police arrested six suspects who are being questioned relating to the murder of the officer.

Read this report by Dikeledi Molobela in full at The New Age. Read too, Tunnels of death: Illegal miners trapped for 17 days beneath Shaft One in Durban Deep, at TimesLive

'Suspend Lonmin operations over social and labour plans’, says Mining Forum of SA

Business Report writes that the Mining Forum of SA (MFSA) has called on Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane to suspend or cancel Lonmin's operations after the platinum producer failed to comply with social and labour plans (SLPs).  The MFSA feels that Lonmin has shown arrogance and lack of willingness to abide by the laws governing the industry.  In a letter, the forum said:  "We are extremely disturbed and disappointed by the consistent actions that have been carried out by Lonmin for the past years up until now".  The letter claimed that in 2006 Lonmin committed to building 5,500 houses for employees and this has not materialised to date.  The company also pledged to implement Local Economic Development and Human Resources Development programmes, and none of these have come into existence.  MFSA has also bashed Lonmin for its inability to implement the Farlam Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations after the 2012 Marikana massacre.  Meanwhile, the Bapo ba Mogale Tribal Authority this month and in October asked government to take drastic steps against Lonmin over a controversial R640 million royalties deal.

The original of this report by Nkosemntu Stuurman is at Business Report

Postings on Mining Charter

• Mining Charter: obsession with the colour of ownership a setback for mines, at BusinessLive
• Court challenge to South Africa Mining Charter postponed to February, at Mining Weekly

INDUSTRIAL ACTION / STRIKES / LOCK-OUTS

Numsa’s 18-day strike at Whirlpool ends with agreement on housing assistance

ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Saturday that the strike by some 900 workers at Whirlpool appliances manufacturing facilities was over.  The workers downed tools on 6 November to demand housing assistance.  Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi said they met the management team last week and the company proposed paying R235 per month housing assistance (security fee) to each employee, for the next 24 months.  Furthermore, they committed to negotiating the possibility of a third year of the housing assistance at a later stage.  “Our members accepted the proposal and the strike was called off.  Some of our members returned to work on Friday and more are expected at work over the weekend,” Hlubi said.  The company also commended the union and its members for a “peaceful strike with no incidents of violence against other employees, members of the community, or disruptions to traffic”.

Read this report in full at The Citizen

PROTESTS / MARCHES / BOYCOTTS

Security guards march against the City of Ekurhuleni on Monday

TimesLive reports that security guards gathered in Germiston on Monday morning‚ prior to their march to the offices of the City of Ekurhuleni to demand that they be considered for employment in new contracts to be signed by the metro.  About 6‚000 workers belonging to a number of security companies stand to lose their jobs from 1 December‚ after the city terminated contracts with their employers.  Teboho Motloung, president of Trade Union of Security Industry in SA (Tusisa) indicated:  “The companies that are coming in say the workers who have been working for the city will not be absorbed under the new contracts.  We are talking about 6‚000 people who are going to lose employment.  That is why we are here today – to display our dissatisfaction with not only the companies‚ but specifically the municipality.  The municipality is one sphere of government which should make sure that in its decisions (it should) favour the interests of the people.”  A memorandum will be handed to the office of the mayor.  Motloung added that Tusisa wanted all security workers to have a minimum basic salary of R8‚500 a month.

Read this report by Penwell Dlamini in full at TimesLive

Police monitor protest action by security guards at Steve Biko Academic Hospital

EWN reports that a protest was taking place on Monday morning at the entrance of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, apparently by group of private security guards.  It was not immediately apparent what the protest was about, but pictures posted on social media showed the entrance to the hospital being blocked.  Earlier, the protesters barricaded the gate, preventing access to the hospital, but police then dispersed the crowd.  Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele said officers were monitoring the situation and added:  “At the moment, the situation is calm as they are engaging with the management of the hospital, however, we’ll be continuing to monitor the area.”

This short report by Mia Lindeque is at EWN. See too, Protest by guards at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, at eNCA