Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: About time someone really shook up the LRA roost

  1. #1
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12

    About time someone really shook up the LRA roost

    So NUMSA is going on strike on Tuesday.
    No surprise to anyone, I expect. I've been getting notices from suppliers for over a month now indicating a strike by NUMSA seemed likely, and I should plan for a disruption to supplies.

    I didn't see this one coming though. Employers tell metalworkers to go home.

    That should shake things up a bit!

  2. #2
    Moderator IanF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Jhb
    Posts
    2,679
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked 529 Times in 405 Posts
    Why not, the unions shouldn't be the only ones to be irresponsible. Will the non unionised workers put the unions under more pressure?
    The unintended consequences will be interesting to watch.
    Only stress when you can change the outcome!

  3. #3
    Diamond Member Justloadit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg
    Posts
    3,480
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked 695 Times in 593 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    I think that the Unions have had a wake up call with this "LockOut". I also disagree with this collective bargaining. Small companies just have no say in what is negotiated, but have to accept the new terms. The Unions have been calling the shots for years, and have been in the pound seat while employers dug deeper and deeper into their pockets to maintain production. But there will come a time, when there is nothing left to give. We have reached that point. Business can not expand due to lack of available electricity, and currently can not be efficient in manufacture because of labour issue, and on top of that, cheap Chinese imports has place a tremendous pressure on local manufacturers, reducing the profit margins substantially.

    It seems the Unions have already requested the permission to strike before the negotiations started. Indicating to me they had no intention of negotiating but going on strike immediately.

    I see my business in a tight position, in which I am doing more of the work to maintain profitability by attempting to reduce costs, but this makes it a very long day for me, and is not sustainable, as at some point something will give in.
    Victor - Knowledge is a blessing or a curse, your current circumstances make you decide!
    Solar pumping, Solar Geyser & Solar Security lighting solutions - www.microsolve.co.za

  4. #4
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    I'm curious as to the thinking behind the move.

    As a statement that enough is enough already, it's a pretty clear, well-timed notice (being right on the back of the 5 month platinum mining strike which has already shown government that big strikes have serious consequences). It's bound to attract high level attention right quick.

    But I wonder if there is something more hoped for behind the move?

  5. #5
    Diamond Member wynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    east london
    Posts
    3,338
    Thanks
    548
    Thanked 625 Times in 524 Posts
    Mothballing your factory for thirty days at a time (like happens during annual year end shut down) must surely be cheaper than keeping everything ticking over on the offchance that the strike will be over soon, send non striking staff on holiday now because you are probably going to have to work through the usual shutdown period to catch up, that way you are not going to have to pay double (pay and leave pay) at the end of the year.

    If the strike is called off in the middle of the month the 'Wekkas' will have to wait till the end of the month before the factory reopens.
    "Nobody who has succeeded has not failed along the way"
    Arianna Huffington

    Read the first 10% of my books "Didymus" and "The BEAST of BIKO BRIDGE" for free
    You can also read and download 100% free my short stories "A Real Surprise" and "Pieces of Eight" at
    http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/332256

  6. #6
    Diamond Member Justloadit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg
    Posts
    3,480
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked 695 Times in 593 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    This also takes the pressure off employers to negotiate quickly. There is ample time now to revue every request, and send it back with a counter offer.
    Victor - Knowledge is a blessing or a curse, your current circumstances make you decide!
    Solar pumping, Solar Geyser & Solar Security lighting solutions - www.microsolve.co.za

  7. #7
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,648
    Thanks
    3,304
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Strike with high stakes.

    I'm inclined to agree. This (and probably the platinum mining strike) seems to be driven more by political agendas than wages.

  8. #8
    Diamond Member Justloadit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Johannesburg
    Posts
    3,480
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked 695 Times in 593 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    Dave I agree, this is not about the value of wages, but flexing muscles in the political arena.
    Victor - Knowledge is a blessing or a curse, your current circumstances make you decide!
    Solar pumping, Solar Geyser & Solar Security lighting solutions - www.microsolve.co.za

  9. #9
    Moderator IanF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Jhb
    Posts
    2,679
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked 529 Times in 405 Posts
    I was chatting to a guy at running yesterday who is a armature winder. The company he works for has closed for a month and he is on unpaid leave.
    The unions seem determined to drag us into the realm of "just another failed African country"
    I remember visiting my mom in Malawi in the 90's and in all seriousness she said you can only have 2 of the 3 working.
    This was phone, electricity and water. We are not far off from that.
    Only stress when you can change the outcome!

  10. #10
    Silver Member Greig Whitton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    338
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 105 Times in 86 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by IanF View Post
    The unions seem determined to drag us into the realm of "just another failed African country"
    I don't think that is what the unions want. But I think that they are willing to risk it to get what they want.

    Founder of Growth Surge - Helping entrepreneurs create more wealth and enjoy more freedom.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Chickens coming home to roost?
    By wynn in forum BEE and Employment Equity Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 14-Feb-13, 08:17 PM
  2. Time to get out in the sun
    By duncan drennan in forum General Chat Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-May-07, 06:53 PM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •