Listed South African retailer Woolworths on Friday expressed its disappointment at the stance taken by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) — including the South Africa Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union — on the ongoing dispute over locally produced goods versus imports.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is planning mass action against retailers after the Competition Commission found that there would be no competition concerns should retailers sign Cosatu’s proposed code of conduct, which sets a target of 75% local content for clothing products on retailers’ shelves.
Listed electronic equipment group Allied Electronics Corporation Limited (Altron) on Tuesday reported a 17% increase in headline earnings per share to 161 cents for the year ending February 28 2005, from 138 cents a year ago. The group declared an ordinary dividend of 63 cents per share — an increase of 21% from 52 cents previously.
Trade union Solidarity on Monday launched its social plan for Stilfontein in the North West. The plan aims to support the community and workers through difficult times due to the closure of DRDGold mines in that area. The plan includes counselling, financial advice, training, placements and community aid.
The Labour Court on Friday ruled that Harmony Gold’s retrenchment of 5 000 mineworkers at its Free State mines was illegal. According to the National Union of Mineworkers, the court ruled that all the workers should be reinstated with immediate effect. A Harmony spokesperson said the company is extremely disappointed.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) on Tuesday said it anticipates tough wage talks ahead of its first round of negotiations on Thursday with the Steel Engineering Industry Federation of South Africa. The parties will lock horns to determine wages and working conditions of 310 000 workers.
The Department of Minerals and Energy said on Tuesday that it anticipates the retail price of petrol (all octane grades) will rise by 19 cents per litre (c/l) effective on May 4. The department said the wholesale price of diesel (0,05% sulphur) could increase by 11c/l, while the wholesale price of illuminating paraffin could be raised by 23c/l.
The Competition Tribunal on Tuesday made public its reasons for the conditional approval of the merger between Multichoice Subscriber Management, a subsidiary of M-Web Holdings, which owns M-Web and Tiscali. On January 17 this year, the tribunal approved the merger subject to two conditions.
Following two days of consultation with its counsel, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Wednesday decided to serve gold-miner Harmony Gold with papers to the effect that the company should stop its current process of laying off workers. The union said the papers will be served on the company on Wednesday evening.
Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) on Thursday said the planned strike action by a group of workers at its parts warehouse in Gauteng will have no effect on the main manufacturing plant in Uitenhage, where more than 6 000 people are employed. The workers want outsourced packing activities to be performed by VWSA employees.