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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing All posts tagged under »labour«
Unions challenge govt — and the opposition
March 9, 2012
The mass strike in South Africa on Wednesday, March 9, was only nominally about e-tolling on public roads and the problem of labour brokers. It was, in fact, a challenge to both the government and the parliamentary opposition who both support a system that allows for road tolls and creates an environment in which unscrupulous labour brokers can thrive.
A failure to understand the importance of food prices
February 24, 2012
A recent report linking food price rises to social unrest underlines the validity of the comment that the world is only three square meals away from revolution or anarchy. The latest South African Budget takes no cognisance of this fact.
Jobs front cynicism as the debates continue
February 10, 2012
The South African government is optimistically punting figures from the latest Labour Force Survey. The unions take a more cautious view and a closer look at the statistics reveals a still strongly "ticking time bomb" of mass unemployment.
Sober reflection as SA’s CCMA turns 15
November 12, 2011
As the world teeters on the brink of a further slide toward what looks like economic chaos, South Africa's Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has marked 15 years of existence. Director Nerine Kahn proudly noted that there was much to celebrate, but there was no celebration.
Labour thumbs down for SA medium-term budget
October 27, 2011
Overall, the South Africa's medium term budget policy statement has been given a fairly resounding thumbs down by the labour movement. And not just by trade union federations, officials, shop stewards and rank and file members; among the army of the recently retrenched are workers who gave a similar verdict as details of the statement became known.
Back to the future: workers & ‘optimisation’
September 17, 2011
From an employer and business perspective there is one major problem with workers: they are human. This is not a moral judgement, and to use a term generally ascribed to the pampered aristocracy of yesteryear, workers are “a necessary evil”.
A strike that could be a tactical blunder
September 2, 2011
If South Africa's major trade union federation, Cosatu, goes ahead with its planned one-day national strike on October 5 it could prove to be a major tactical blunder that will weaken, rather than strengthen, the labour movement.
Terry Bell Writes 
March 16, 2012
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