WEDNESDAY, 3.00PM
STRIKES during the first six months of 1997 resulted in the loss of 140 000 fewer workdays than the same period last year.
The number of workdays lost in the first half dropped from 400 000 in 1996 to 260 000 this year, according to statistics released on Wednesday by labour consultancy Andrew Levy & Associates. In the first half of 1995, 95 000 workdays were lost, compared to 1,2-million in 1994 and 700 000 in 1993.
The main reasons for strikes were wage demands (43,2%), union recognition/bargaining levels (33,2%), grievances (12,3%), dismissals/discipline (7,6%), and retrenchment 3,7%).
The most active unions in terms of workdays lost to strikes were were the Paper Printing and Allied Workers Union (41%), the Food and Allied Workers Union (28%), the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (13,9%), the National Union of Mineworkers (7,6%), and the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (3,3%).
BUSINESS BRIEFS
OUTSPAN AIMS HIGH SOUTH African citrus exporter Outspan International on Wednesday said it expects to ship a record 50-million cartons of fruit overseas this year, to take the company over R2-billion in gross sales for the first time. Last year the company handled citrus exports of 45,5-million cartons, worth R1,94-billion.
FIRST BLACK COAL MINE KUYASA mining, the first black-owned coal mining company in SA, opens its subsidiary Ikhwezi colliery near Delmas in Mpumalanga on Thursday. The mineral and energy affairs department has spent the past two years facilitating the formation of the mine as part of the national policy to assist the development of small and medium-scale mining.
SAA CUTS COSTS IN an attempt to recover from a R323-million posted loss in the year to end March, SA Airways has launched a three-point plan aimed at cutting R200-million in costs. The airline plans to cut fuel costs, improve aircraft turnaround time and passenger handling, and reduce wastage and theft, which leads to R1-million in lost baggage claims every month.
SUPERMARKET FUNERAL POLICIES SHOPRITE Checkers has launched what may be a world first — it is to sell funeral policies through its 245 supermarkets. The group is launching the policy in conjunction with Old Mutual assurers and HT Group of funeral directors. The product will be pegged at a 30%-40% discount compared to similar conventional policies.
TAX HOLIDAY GAINS A TOTAL of 17 new projects worth R800-million are expected to be approved by government’s tax-holiday incentive by the end of the month, the trade and industry department announced. Investors in new manufacturing projects can approach the department for tax holiday status, with applications considered once a month.