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News & Views by Terry Bell
SA govt’s public sector pay gamble
The SA government — the biggest employer in the land — has effectively reneged on its own proposals for a settlement with more than 1 million of its employees, gambling that ANC aligned unions will accept the new, austerity measures. This has caused growing anger at rank and file level and may mean the government has overplayed its hand.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
A digital wake-up call for labour
April 14, 2018
Debates surrounding the delayed and now postponed private placing on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange of Sagarmatha Technologies, featuring the controversial Dr Iqbal Survé, have at least provided a information about the 4th industrial revolution that should be a wake-up call for labour. They ignore this at their peril.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
A glance at SA labour’s state of flux
April 8, 2018
(Inside Labour – first published in City Press 04.04.2018) South Africa’s trade union movement is in a state of flux. But, largely at a bureaucratic level at this stage, a battle is raging, between the various federations competing for both affiiiates and wider support. Focus over the past week has been on the tripartite National […]
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
A glance at SA labour’s state of flux
April 8, 2018
The South African labour movement is in a state of flux, with a largely unnoticed internecine war for members and influence going on. Three of the competing federations are on the back foot over minimum wage proposals, but there may be hope of some union unity over controversial labour law amendments that seem to entrench a system of growing inequality.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
A citizens’ coalition road to real democracy
April 2, 2018
Modern communications technology allows us all to be in almost instant communication with one another. Why then should we not use such technology to organise a coalition of citizens on the basis of a democratic programme that would remove the system of elites that now operates and that is inherently open to corruption? It is possible and is certainly worth discussing seriously.
Posted in: Commentary
The YES gambit for 2019 SA elections
April 1, 2018
The Youth Employment Scheme (YES) announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa is not unique. Sucvh schemes have been tried — and have failed — before. In fact, YES may add more fuel to the ticking time bomb of dissatisfaction among the army of unemployed youth.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
Potential SA strike turmoil & the 2019 elections
March 31, 2018
The response to the April 25 general strike call by the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and the turnouts and attitudes expressed at coming May Day rallies should provide a good indication of the mood of a widely disgruntled labour movement. It may also provide a clear union response to President Cyril Ramaphosa's newly announced Youth Employment Scheme.
Posted in: Inside Labour Column
SA’s public broadcaster blunders again
March 30, 2018
In an action that has stunned broadcasters and many radio listeners, popular SAfm morning show radio host Sakina Kamwendo had her last Forum at Eight programme shut down by management, halfway through its alloted hour. In what one senior broadcaster called "a public relations mess", Kamwendo was abruptly taken off air and in a move reminiscent of military coups, music was instead played, without explanation.
Posted in: General reporting
Terry Bell Writes 
April 16, 2018
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