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Bus and air strikes loom

Johannesburg - Bus commuters and air travellers may find it tough getting to work or travelling in the next few days if predictions about strike action by their respective unions go ahead.

Metrobus workers will embark on a strike on Monday, the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) said on Saturday.

Samwu chairperson at Metrobus, Phanuel Tshikovha, said that the drivers were demanding that Metrobus acting managing director, Lawrence Maqekoane, be suspended pending an investigation of allegations against him.

The union wants Maqekoane to be investigated for allegedly violating company polices. They wanted him out of the office as he could manipulate the investigation.

The union also have suspicions of corruption and demand an immediate forensic investigation. Samwu also have a problem with the "behavioral assessment" introduced by Maqekoane for recruitment processes. They believe it has the potential for nepotism.

He did not want to comment on the allegations, as he had already responded to the union, said Maqekoane.

"The strike will go on until we reach [a] positive agreement," Tshikovha said.

SAA and unions

Meanwhile the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and the United Association of SA (Uasa) last week received permission from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to strike after a third round of talks deadlocked.

At this stage it remains unclear to what extent SAA’s flights would be affected if 70% of their ground and cabin crew go on strike.

SAA said that if the need arose it would activate contingency plans "to ensure business continuity".

SAA had offered a 6.23% increase in basic salaries, effective 1 April - up from the initial 6.02% offer.

Unions are demanding 7.5% on total remuneration, down from 9.5%, which includes salary, medical aid, housing and meal allowances.

SAA increases for pilots and technical staff covered total pay, including all allowances and benefits, according to Uasa.

Cosatu’s Satawu and Uasa are working together for the first time on possible strike action.

Satawu competes with the breakaway National Transport Movement (NTM) union.

Up to 30% of SAA's ground and cabin crew don’t belong to a union, or are NTM members, so they don't have permission to strike.

Lonmin files papers

Mining company Lonmin [JSE:LON] earlier filed court papers proposing that a secret ballot be held to establish the union membership of its workers.

City Press reported on Sunday that an affidavit filed by Lonmin in the  Labour court last week called for an "independent and closed ballot...in order to determine to which trade union, if any, the employees are affiliated."

The company also apparently offered to suspend its termination of the National Union of Mineworkers' (NUM) recognition agreement.

The replying affidavit was filed in response to an application by NUM to interdict the loss of its recognition and the order to vacate its offices, scheduled to take effect on 16 July.

On a positive note, De Beers and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) announced on Saturday that they had reached an agreement of a 9% wage increase.

Wayne Smerdon, head of employee relations of the diamond mining company, said the agreement had been signed on Friday evening.

The terms of the settlement apply to jobs in the A, B and lower C band bargaining unit.

"The employees in these jobs will receive a 9% increase effective from May 2013. Mining operations continued without interruption at all three of De Beers South African diamond mines," Smerdon said.
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