COSATU+to+Mdladlana,+Amy+Musgrave,+Business+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 03 November 2006
=Cosatu leads unionists’ beef to Mdladlana=


 * Amy Musgrave, Political Correspondent**

THE Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and its affiliate, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), want Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana to intervene in a strike at Karan Beef, which is the largest supplier of premier-quality beef in SA.

Saccawu is also considering a solidarity strike at Shoprite Checkers and Pick ’n Pay and a boycott of Karan’s products to put pressure on the company to go back to the negotiating table.

The majority of employees at Karan, which has operations in City Deep, Heidelberg and Balfour, downed tools on July 28 over wage increases Karan was offering. Saccawu wants a 12% hike across the board and a minimum wage of R2000, while the company is offering 8% and a minimum wage of R1250, up from R1100.

A boycott and secondary strike would have far-reaching financial consequences, especially at Shoprite, where a three-month strike by Saccawu members ended last month.

Cosatu Gauteng secretary Siphiwe Mgcina said in Johannesburg yesterday that the federation’s deputy general secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali, had written to Mdladlana requesting his involvement in the strike, as the company had refused to return to talks at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

Labour department spokes-man Mokgadi Pela said legislation did not make it possible for Mdladlana to enter the dispute.

“As with the Satawu (South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union) strike, the minister won’t be able to intervene due to the inflexibility of laws. They do not allow the minister to intervene in industrial disputes. It’s not out of malice, the minister’s hands are tied,” he said.

A review of the labour laws is under way which may see a change that allows the minister to become involved in disputes.

The laws were formulated by various constituencies, including labour and business, at the National Economic Development and Labour Council.

Saccawu Gauteng secretary Dumasani Dakile and Samuel Mbhele, chairman of the shop steward committee at Karan, painted a bleak picture of the company yesterday, accusing bosses of racism and unfair labour practices.

Karan made headlines in September when a striker died after being shot four times by police at a township in the Heidelberg area.

Police said Epharim Mvulane was shot after resisting arrest on a murder charge. However, Saccwu claimed the police were at his house with company security guards to intimidate him and other striking employees.

Gauteng community safety MEC Firoz Cachalia went to the area to investigate and the case was handed over to the police’s Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD).

Cachalia’s spokeswoman, Phumla Mthala, said the MEC met the ICD yesterday and was updated on investigations.

Karan human resources manager Deon Loots denied the racism allegations, saying “it’s one tool that gets used when people don’t get what they want”.

He said any future meetings on wages would be “futile” as the company could not offer any more money.


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/national.aspx?ID=BD4A309080**

498 words