South African metalworkers conference discusses bargaining strategies in a changing world of work20 April, 2022National bargaining conferences provide union negotiators and shop stewards a chance to analyze and shape strategies for negotiations. For the metalworkers, they are also training and knowledge sharing events for experienced negotiators and shop stewards who will be going into the important union task of collective bargaining for the first time.
Unions on strike at South African gold mines10 March, 2022The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, and other unions, are on strike to push for wage demands after failed negotiations at Sibanye Stillwater gold mines.
Unions call for policy intervention to save jobs at South African oil and gas refineries17 February, 2022With several oil and gas refineries closing and further closures planned, unions are calling on the South African government to intervene to save jobs.
South African union condemns brutal murder of woman worker20 January, 2022Nokufa Jessica Ndaba-Modise, an auxiliary occupational health nurse who worked at Highveld Hospital owned by coal mining company Thungela in Witbank was allegedly stabbed to death with a knife by her spouse on Christmas Eve, and her union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), is furious.
South African union and communities march against privatization of Eskom 16 December, 2021Hundreds of workers and affected communities marched to the offices of Eskom in Johannesburg on 11 December to protest the privatization of the public power utility which they say is leading to job losses for tens of thousands of workers and will make electricity unaffordable to poor communities.
Union campaign pays off as Covid-19 vaccination rates hit 74% in South Africa’s garment sector8 December, 2021One of the unions leading the Covid-19 vaccination campaign for workers in South Africa is the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU). The union’s tireless awareness and educational campaigns for workers to take the jab and adhere to Covid-19 protocols are paying off.
South Africa submits documents to ratify ILO Convention 1902 December, 2021With women mineworkers raped and murdered underground, energy workers killed during night shifts whilst others are attacked and scarred for life with acid while at work, the South African workplace is a crime scene for gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH).
Unions uneasy over South African Just Transition finance deal announced at COP26 4 November, 2021South African trade unions affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) are supportive of a Just Transition partnership that is inclusive of the workers and poor communities through social dialogue, protects jobs and livelihoods, and promotes a socially owned renewable energy sector.
South African mine workers union commits to recruitment and better service to members28 October, 2021At a policy conference in East London, 26-27 October, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), resolved that it will go back to the basics on recruitment, organizing, and servicing of its members in the construction, energy, metals, and mining sectors.
Union wins as strike action ends in three-year wage agreement26 October, 2021The three weeks engineering and metals sector national strike ended when a three-year wage agreement with an offer of six per cent was signed by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) on 21 October.
