In our Monday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared up until
midafternoon on Monday, 16 October 2017.
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Pilots at Mango and cabin crew at SA Airlink due to embark on strike action on Monday TimesLive reports that according to union officials, employees of two local airlines would be downing tools on Monday. Pilots at budget airline Mango are launching a strike after lengthy wage negotiations with the company failed. Deon Reyneke of trade union Solidarity said employees were demanding an 8.5% increase, while the company was offering 6%. Meantime, members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) at SA Airlink were also due to go on strike (see report below that strike was called off). “The 110 workers are employed as cabin crew at the regional airline and are disgruntled that the company refuses to accede to their pay increase demand. Workers are demanding a 32% increase while the company is only offering 10%‚” the union indicated. It said the demand was fuelled by the fact that the company had increased pilots’ salaries by 32%. Satawu also intends to address racial undertones at the company in that black female cabin crew are not allowed to wear their hair natural as the airline deems it unprofessional. Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at TimesLive. See too, Solidarity committed to negotiate with Mango, at Business Report. And also, Flights cancelled, delayed as Mango flight crew down tools, at eNCA Pilot strike delays several Mango flights TimesLive reports that several Mango flights were delayed on Monday following strike action by the airline’s pilots represented by trade union Solidarity. According to the budget airline’s spokesperson Sergio Dos Santos, they had managed to “reassign” passengers to other airlines. He said the delays were between eight and 40 minutes, but people were reaching their destinations. Some of the delayed flights include: the 8.45am flight from Lanseria to Cape Town‚ the 10.50am from Cape Town to Johannesburg‚ the 3.20pm from Cape Town to Johannesburg and the 4pm from George to Johannesburg. According to Solidarity‚ which represents 95% of the pilots‚ the strike was called as a result of failed negotiations with the airline. Union spokesperson Deon Reyneke indicated that the airline refused to revisit its initial offer of 6%‚ “while the trade union was prepared to adjust its mandate in a bid to let negotiations succeed.” He said the union was demanding an 8.5% increase. Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at TimesLive. See too, We negotiated with Mango for the past 4 months, says Solidarity, at Business Report. And also, Mango asks SAA to assist after flight staff go on strike, at EWN Striking Mango employees won't budge until wage demand is met, says Solidarity eNCA reports that according to trade union Solidarity, its striking members will not reduce the 8.5% salary increase they are demanding from Mango Airlines and will continue striking until the demand is met. Mango is offering 6%. The union represents 95% of the pilots at Mango airline. Solidarity deputy general secretary Deon Reyneke commented: “According to a report compiled by P E Corporate Services, our pilots earn 23% less than other airlines while first officers earn 40% less. Even though Mango is a low-cost airline, the pay gap is low. They told us that they will revert back to us. We will wait for them, but we will not move from the 8.5% that our members are demanding.” Read this report in full at eNCA Satawu calls off SA Airlink strike after deal is struck TimesLive reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has called off the strike at SA Airlink which was due to take place on Monday. Union spokesperson Matthew Ramosie said: “The CEO of SA Airlink called a meeting yesterday (Sunday) and‚ after deliberations‚ we reached an agreement and decided to call off the strike.” He indicated that the union accepted the 10% increase the company offered its members and added that on top of the 10% “the company will add R2,000 per month on salaries of employees. The company has also agreed to increase allowances employees get.” The allowances include flight pay‚ night allowance‚ airport reserve and the in-charge allowance. In a statement posted on its website‚ SA Airlink said its scheduled flights would operate as normal on Monday. Read this report by Nomahlubi Jordaan in full at SowetanLive. SA Airlink’s short press statement is at SA Airlink online Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Harmony ‘very unclear’ whether murder of regional manager is linked to illegal mining Miningmx reports that Harmony Gold said it remained “very unclear” if the murder of Simphiwe Kubekha, a regional mine manager at its Tshepong and Phakisa operations near Welkom in the Free State, was related to illegal mining. Kubekha was shot and killed on his way home on 28 September. Speculation at the mine has been that it was in retaliation after he attempted to root out illegal gold mining by so-called ‘zama-zamas’. Three men were arrested in connection with the murder earlier this month. Harmony spokeswoman Lauren Fourie said: “The police and Harmony security are continuing with the investigation. For the persons arrested, the case is postponed to the 16th of October for a formal bail application. As you can understand the situation is still very sensitive, and security has been reinforced. We do not want to compromise the investigation in anyway and have refrained from a significant public response or campaign. It is still very unclear whether the murder of Simphiwe is related to illegal mining.” Read this report by David McKay in full at Miningmx Harmony agrees to mining skills development programme after violent Free State job protests News24Wire reports that Harmony Gold has announced that an agreement has been reached with the Matjhabeng municipality and the Unemployment Forum to implement a special community development programme that will equip residents in certain Free State communities with mining skills. Harmony spokesperson Max Manoeli said the agreement had been reached on Friday and would benefit residents in Welkom and surrounding areas. This came after violence erupted in the local municipality townships and surrounding areas last week. Disgruntled residents from Welkom, Thabong and Odendaalsrus barricaded the main roads with burning tyres, rocks and other objects in a protest against a lack of mining jobs. Several shops were looted. "Harmony will provide training and certification of mining operator skills such as rock drill operating, winch and loco driving. The main idea is to create a pool from which Harmony can absorb a workforce from the successful trainees," Manoeli explained. He added that there might be an opportunity for a successful trainee to join Harmony. Seventy miners will start the programme at Harmony and 30 others at Sibanye Gold on 1 November. The protest has since been suspended. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
Striking 10111 call centre workers gather for march to Union Buildings Pretoria News reports that on Monday morning employees of the 10111 emergency call centre were slowly starting to gather at the Pretoria Art Museum ahead of their march to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum of demands. The march, led by the SA Policing Union’s (Sapu’s) Tumelo Mogodiseng, was due to commence at 12pm, with about 500 employees expected to take part. They are demanding salary upgrades to raise them to the same level as other government call centre workers at the Department of Home Affairs, SA Social Security Agency, SA Revenue Services (Sars) and the presidential hotline, amongst others. The salary upgrades were recommended in 2013 by a task team set up by former police commissioner Riah Phiyega, but never implemented. The strike has been on since 18 July this year. This short report by Rudzani Matshili is at Pretoria News, where video footage can also be viewed
Fedusa says Zuma must clear his name in court and asks what he is afraid of News24 reports that the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said on Friday that it was in the best interest of the country that President Jacob Zuma cleared his name in court. "It is high time that this president has his day in court and clear his name. What is he afraid of?" Fedusa general secretary Dennis George asked. The federation was responding to a Supreme Court of Appeal decision on Friday relating to an appeal brought by Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) against reinstatement of corruption charges against the president. The appeal was dismissed with costs. Weighing in on the matter, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) said NPA head Shaun Abrahams "must immediately stop looking for further excuses... and reinstate all the charges," as required by the Constitution. Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi called on Zuma to step down before the end of Friday. Read this report by Amanda Khoza and Jeanette Chabalala in full at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Ekurhuleni beats other metros in job creation ANA reports that the City of Ekurhuleni has had a strong year in terms of job creation, beating all South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities in that respect. This was shown by the recent quarterly labour force survey (QLFS) on the employment situation in SA for the second quarter of the 2017 calendar year and final quarter of the financial year, Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe said. “The report reflects that the annual employment gains observed in six metropolitan municipalities, with the largest increase in Ekurhuleni (98,000), followed by City of Cape Town (63,000) and eThekwini (58,000),” he indicated. Compared to the same period last year, employment decreases were recorded in two metros, namely the Johannesburg (30,000) and Mangaung (4,000). Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina welcomed the survey, saying the city would continue to create a favourable environment that would create more sustainable jobs through its 10-point plan. Read this report in full at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Government pushes ahead with new all-embracing pension fund eNCA reports that government is pushing ahead with the introduction of a new all-embracing pension fund, which will combine all existing pension funds, public and private, into a fund estimated at R3-trillion. All employers and employees will be obliged to contribute at a combined rate of 12% of their income per annum into the National Social Security Fund, which will also include the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). Government will subsidise low-income workers to minimise disruptions with the introduction of mandatory contributions. The setting up of the fund is currently being negotiated at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). While many agree there is a need for such a fund, funding and modalities must be agreed upon and it could take up to three years before the fund is implemented. But with trust between government and other social partners at an all-time low, there are concerns that such a fund could be open to political abuse. Labour says social partners must be involved throughout the process to prevent the fund from being misused. Read this report in full at eNCA
MEC Lesufi to visit victim raped by scholar patroller at Pretoria school SABC News reports that it is not clear whether the scholar patroller who is suspected of having raped a matric learner at a school in Mamelodi, Pretoria, has been arrested or not. Mahuba Valley secondary school educators walked apparently in on the man during the alleged rape. The latest incident comes after 87 Soweto primary school pupils were sexually assaulted by a scholar patroller. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said his teams were ready to visit the Pretoria school where the latest incident happened during a matric dance last month. “We are going to that school with all our teams, most importantly to provide the immediate support to the 17-year-old girl that needs assistance because everyone knows about the incident so we have to prepare where she can study and write exams and also the preparation for the court appearance. But the team is ready to provide the necessary assistance that is needed.” This short report is at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Old Mutual named as top employer in SA for 2017/18 BusinessTech reports that the Top Employers Institute has released its updated list of certified top employers in SA, adding 15 new companies to the list of employers who provide the best environment for their employees. Old Mutual, which was ranked as the 7th top employer in 2016/17, ascended to the top spot in South Africa for 2017/18, followed by auditing group EY Africa, and financial software giant, SAP. EY Africa was named as the top employer in Africa, having ranked as top employer in Kenya and Nigeria and ranked second in SA. The annual international research undertaken by the institute recognises employers that provide excellent employee conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the organisation, and which strive to continuously optimise employment practices. The companies are then evaluated across nine key areas: talent strategy, workforce planning, on-boarding, learning & development, performance management, leadership development, career & succession management, compensation & benefits, and culture. Read this report, which lists the top ten employers in SA, in full at BusinessTech. See too, Old Mutual named as top employer in SA, at Fin24
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