From the SA Press Association:
Trade unions and non-govermental organisations (NGOs) have called for 11 months’ maternity leave for mothers, The Times reported on Tuesday.
This followed a recent conference where unions and NGOs noted inconsistencies in legislation and bargaining agreements, which made women feel punished for having children, reported the newspaper.
Cosatu gender forum chairwoman Sharone Daniels was quoted as stating: “The current legislation appears to have been written without consideration of women in the workplace.
“It was expected that women would be pregnant and chained to the stove. The law has to change to accommodate women.”
Many at the conference felt the current four months of maternity leave allowed to new mothers was far too short to bond with their newly-born child.
SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior policy consultant Pietman Roos said if maternity leave was extended, employing women would be seen as a risk to companies.
“It’s a cost factor. It would ultimately affect the chances of getting a job for all women,” he told the newspaper.
@alechogg they quote PNP with approval . but what of small business with ONE staff member doing several functions eg bookkeeper,wages etc
— andy (@andyCatHB) July 29, 2014
STRIKERS ACCEPT WAGE OFFER
Yesterday, both the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and Solidarity accepted a wage offer in the metals and engineering sector.
“The settlement offer has been overwhelmingly and unanimously accepted by our members,” Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said.
“This is a massive victory given the pittance offer at the point of deadlock. For this we salute metalworkers.”
The new proposal includes a three-year agreement with increases of between eight and 10 percent, depending on whether the workers were high or low earners.
Jim called on workers to report for work from Tuesday.
Trade union Solidarity also accepted the offer, spokesman Marius Croucamp said in a statement.
“The offer comprises salary increases of eight percent to 10 percent in year one, 7.5 percent to 10 percent in year two and seven percent to 10 percent in year three,” Croucamp said.
In terms of the proposal, section 37 of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council collective agreement would remain in place, with a provision that existing company-level agreements stay in force.
According to the employers’ associations: “Section 37 protects employers from having to engage in substantive negotiations at plant level, once a deal has been concluded on wages and related conditions of employment at national level.”
Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of SA (Seifsa) CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said that a compromise had been reached over section 37, and that Seifsa was satisfied this would protect companies from two-tier bargaining.
He welcomed the end of the strike and thanked Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant for her role in facilitating negotiations.
“It is no exaggeration to say that, had she and her team not been involved in the process, the strike may well be continuing,” he said in a statement.
“It is now incumbent on all stakeholders in the metals and engineering sector to work co-operatively together to grow the sector and to ensure that it is internationally competitive.”
Over 200,000 Numsa members in the metal and engineering sector downed tools on July 1, demanding a salary increase of 12 percent, down from their pre-strike demand of 15 percent. They also demanded a R1000 housing allowance, and a total ban on labour brokers.
The union announced on July 13 that it had lowered its wage demand to 10 percent.
The labour department and Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration facilitated talks between Seifsa and unions earlier this month when negotiations between the parties deadlocked.
– SAPA
NUMSA AGREES TO END STRIKE
By Zandi Shabalala
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s main manufacturing union, NUMSA, has agreed to end a four-week strike after accepting a wage increase offer from employers, union leader Irvin Jim said on Monday.
More than 200,000 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) downed tools on July 2 to demand higher wages, halting production at automakers including General Motors and hitting work at new power plants.
Members of South Africa’s largest union will return to work on Tuesday after it accepted a 10 percent annual pay rise fixed for three years for its lowest-paid workers.
“The settlement offer has been overwhelmingly and unanimously accepted by members,” Jim told reporters.
A smaller union, the 20,000-strong United Association of South Africa (UASA), earlier said it had accepted the wage increase offer.
The metals and engineering strike came soon after the end of a five-month walkout in the platinum sector, the longest and costliest strike in South Africa’s history.
