Gunnebo Security: More than 70 workers have been on strike for the past five weeks at gun and money safe manufacturer, Gunnebo Security, after the company wanted to unilaterally introduce production targets. The Wadeville company is adamant that ‘the union started the strike. Workers must come back and meet the targets.’ They are not prepared to negotiate. According to local organiser, Simple Kau, the company is talking of closing the company or retrenching the workers. There is no real production taking place.

ACSA:As Numsa News went to print, the strike by Airports Company SA (ACSA) workers was continuing. Workers are demanding a 10% wage increase. The company has offered 8,5%. The workers’ union, Cosatu affiliate, Satawu, claims that ACSA can pay since it has just announced that it would give its executive directors bonuses of 45% of their annual packages and because it is the most profitable airports company in the world.

Teachers:Sadtu has threatened rolling mass action against education departments, particularly in KZN and Eastern Cape , where some teachers have not been paid since 2001.

Shoprite:Thousands of Shoprite casual workers went back to work on November 7, after their union SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), signed a deal ensuring that casuals:

will work at least 100 hours a month
will be allowed to join the company or union retirement scheme
will be provided with uniforms.

Shoprite has also agreed not to force casuals to have HIV tests before being employed nor to institute credit checks on them. Since unhappiness began amongst casual workers earlier this year, close to 17 000 casuals have joined Saccawu.

DENEL:The impasse between Denel, the weapons manufacturer and Numsa remains unresolved. Despite several meetings and protest actions to try and avoid strike action, the company refuses to meet the following demands:

Failure to comply with the Restructuring and Transformation Central Committee Accord (RTCC) and the National Framework Agreement (NFA)
Unilateral violation of the conditions of employment and failure to consult the unions.
Failure to implement wage increases of 10,5% and 9,5% for the highest and lowest paid workers respectively in line with the Engineering Main agreement.
Cancellation of the social plan thus excluding unions.