A strike has closed the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel. Striking French ferry workers blockaded the French port with a wall of flaming tyres, before forcing the closure of the Channel Tunnel by getting on to the tracks.
Some of the 3,000 migrants camped at Calais are reportedly trying to exploit the strike by jumping on to slow-going lorries.
African migrants waited near the A16 highway as they tried to access the Channel Tunnel in Calais. Police officers sprayed them with teargas to keep them away.
Drivers have been told to avoid Calais altogether, as striking workers set the road on fire and a queue of 500-600 vehicles waiting to use the Eurotunnel to get to the British side of the channel.
All ferries between Dover and Calais have been suspended thanks to the wildcat action by MyFerryLink workers, which started at 3.50am on Tuesday.
They forced the closure of the Channel Tunnel, invading the tracks. Eurostar services were subject to delays and cancellations because trains are stuck outside the tunnel, while Eurotunnel services are operating with disruptions of up to 2.5 hours following earlier closures, Sky News has reported.
Eurostar tweeted that services will resume tomorrow after engineers repair fire-damaged tracks overnight.
Traffic jams built up on both sides of the channel, with delays on other cross-channel ferry routes such as Dover to Dunkirk.
President Jacob Zuma has shown little sympathy for the victims and relatives of the Marikana massacre after he announced that the slain and wounded miners had themselves been killers.
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) south campus hall was packed to listen to Zuma’s address on Tuesday.
Some said the president had contravened presidential decorum by addressing the students on the deaths of the miners while families were still waiting for the Farlam Commission’s report into the Marikana massacre.
Zuma stunned his audience when he said the striking miners had been killers before they were shot on August 16, 2012, referring to the killing of 10 people ahead of the massacre.
He said the police had been forced to stop the violence that had been prevailing at the time.
“Even the Marikana miners were shot after killing people,” he said.
Israel has closed its embassies around the world as about 1 200 foreign ministry employees declare a strike over low salaries.
The strike by Israeli diplomats has affected Israel’s 102 missions abroad.
Israeli diplomats launched an unprecedented strike on Sunday, forcing the complete closure of embassies around the world as they escalated a dispute over pay, officials said.
The industrial action has already threatened to postpone a visit by Pope Francis to Israel planned for May – one of 25 trips by foreign officials affected by a work slowdown the diplomats began on March 5 when wage talks broke down.
By escalating the action to a full strike – the first by the diplomatic corps since the country’s establishment in 1948 – the diplomats will close all of Israel’s 102 missions abroad, paralysing most diplomatic work with other countries and the United Nations.
“We are completely shutting down the [foreign ministry] office and missions abroad. This is the first time ever,” ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor said.
Another ministry official said: “As of now, the foreign ministry doesn’t exist. It’s not possible even to submit complaints”.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called the strike “irresponsible” and “a wretched decision and a display of a loss of control on union’s part.”
“We shall do whatever possible to minimise the damage to the country and its citizens,” Lieberman said.
Diplomats said the strike – involving around 1 200 foreign service employees – was open-ended and had been called after the treasury failed to present any acceptable proposals.
They are demanding an increase in monthly salaries, which they put at 6 000 to 9 000 shekels (R18 800 to R28 200), and want compensation for spouses forced to quit jobs owing to foreign postings. They say about a third of their number has quit in the past 15 years because of poor wages.
Yacov Livne, spokesperson for the diplomats’ union, said: “the treasury is determined to destroy the foreign ministry and Israeli diplomacy.” –
Platinum producer Lonmin faces possible strike action from minority unions that were left out of a recognition agreement it signed last week with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).
Trade union Solidarity says it is considering staging a strike at the mine in a bid to have its recognition at the company restored.
The union has declared a dispute with Lonmin over the issue and has taken the matter to the government labour mediator, a step towards legal strike action.
Ironically, Lonmin, the world’s third-largest producer of platinum, signed the agreement with Amcu in part to avert a threatened strike.
Solidarity general-secretary Gideon du Plessis says they have no choice but to strike.
Amcu president Joseph Mthunjwa says the agreement accommodates other unions.
Mthunjwa says past agreements did not allow for any other minority unions to be recognised. – SABC
More than 30 000 assembly line workers in the motor manufacturing industry are expected to down tools today. This after wage talks between the seven biggest manufacturers and metalworkers’ union Numsa deadlocked.
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) is demanding a 14% pay increase, while employers are offering between 7.5% and 8.5%.
The motor industry-dependant Eastern Cape, with its three manufacturers, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and General Motors, is expected to be hard hit.
CEO of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber Kevin Hustler says, “The concern always around the automotive trade is that it is an anchor industry in the Nelson Mandela region and parts of the Eastern Cape. A strike right now is a threat to production as well as local and international orders.”
He says, “If the strike continues for a protracted time, the greater the effect will be for businesses themselves and the economy as a whole. At this time South Africa is affected quite strongly by lack of confidence by both business and foreign investors. This does not bode well for building confidence in international markets.” – SABC
Western Cape farmworkers will suspend their protests over wages and living conditions for two weeks, Acting Labour Minister Angie Motshekga said on Wednesday.
She said the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) had consulted workers and it was agreed they would return to work on Thursday and desist from violence and vandalism.
The suspension was on condition that the sectoral determination for agriculture be looked at by the Employment Condition Commission next Wednesday.
This meant the R70 a day minimum wage for farmworkers would be cancelled and renegotiated.
Motshekga was addressing reporters in Cape Town, on behalf of Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant, who was out of the country.
Grape harvesters in the Hex River Valley have been protesting for more than a week about their wages, demanding R150 a day.
Most earn between R69 and R75 a day, with R80 being the highest and only offer from farmers so far.
Sixteen towns in the province have been affected by the protest action, including blocked roads and burning tyres.
Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson described the labour action as a service delivery strike, and said workers in De Doorns, for instance, wanted housing and basic services.
She condemned those who said the matter was purely political.
“This is not a political matter. This an initiative of workers themselves. This is indeed a service delivery strike.”
Agri SA said on Wednesday said it was definitely a political matter.
“This is the worst violence that we have ever experienced… For sure it is forces from the outside. It is political,” Agri SA Western Cape president Cornie Swart said.
“People are being driven in by buses and taxis. It’s not a strike. It’s a total, political, blown-up thing.”
The labour department expressed condolences to the family of a farmworker killed in Wolseley on Wednesday morning and called for an end to violence by workers and victimisation by farmers.
Western Cape police confirmed that a man had been killed as a result of police action and five other people injured during protests in Wolseley.
Lt-Col Andre Traut said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) would investigate.
Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini said an investigator was on his way to the scene where the protester was shot to get more details.
“I can confirm that one person was killed. However, we only have a report that three were injured. An investigator is on his way to gather more details.”
Joemat-Pettersson said her state security and police counterparts, Siyabonga Cwele and Nathi Mthethwa, would “engage further in the matter”.
“To give information now [on the death] would be very clumsy and irresponsible,” she said.
The SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said two photographers were injured while covering protests during the day.
“This morning [Wednesday] Mandla Mnyakama, a photographer from the Daily Sun, was allegedly shot in the back with a rubber bullet by police whilst covering unrest near Robertson in the Western Cape,” Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya said.
He said Mnyakama was hurt, but that his primary concern was the “treatment” he received from the police.
Die Burger photographer Lulama Zenzile was hurt in the same protest, while standing 20 yards (about 18 metres) from the police.
“He was taken to a clinic, and after X-rays confirmed his nose was not broken, he was discharged,” Makhanya said.
Sanef was still waiting for a response from the police.
A notice indicating the intent to call all interested parties to comment on the sectoral determination will be published by next Friday.
Joemat-Pettersson said the sectoral determination could only be revised once a year.
A revision would affect all farmworkers across the country, regardless of produce.
Trade and industry minister Rob Davies, fresh from a visit to Brazil on wine-related matters, said the government needed to look into the ethical trading of wine.
“I’m not surprised there’s been an explosion of this sort,” he said.
“I think there’s a link between the conditions of farmworkers, the degree to which they are seen to benefit from the fruits of the industry and the ability to market this product internationally.”
He would re-visit proposals to carry “ethical trading” stickers on wine bottles from farms with fair labour practices. – Sapa
Western Cape premier Helen Zille warned on Wednesday that the province was “heading towards anarchy” as farmworker protests continued.
The Democratic Alliance leader said in statement she had sent ANC provincial leader Marius Fransman an SMS detailing her concerns.
The SMS read: “We are heading towards anarchy. 1000s of jobs will be lost and an industry potentially destroyed.
“I am receiving horrific reports of farmworker intimidation. [Labour Minister Mildred] Oliphant must be recalled from abroad and begin negotiations on the national minimum wage with all stakeholders.
“It is essential that we remove politics from this matter and stabilise the situation. That is the call you must make. I am extremely worried that lives are in danger and that people will retaliate.”
Zille said later in a statement that Fransman had to distance himself from alleged incitement in the province by the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).
Last Wednesday, Cosatu Western Cape secretary Tony Ehrenreich said talks about the protest had to find a way for workers to get decent wages.
“The ill treatment and under-payment of workers by some farmers must stop, otherwise we will see a Marikana in De Doorns,” he said.
Freedom Front Plus spokesman Pieter Groenewald said on Tuesday the party would ask the SA Human Rights Commission to investigate the “correctness” of statements attributed to Ehrenreich.
According to Groenewald, Ehrenreich allegedly told farmers: “There is already blood on the farmworkers, and unless it stops there will be blood on the farmers of these farms.”
On Tuesday Zille said she asked President Jacob Zuma to intervene in the De Doorns farmworkers’ wage dispute, and had called for the defence force to get involved.
Farmworkers continued protests in the Western Cape and burned tyres on Wednesday morning while police fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd.
Police spokeswoman Constable Lybey Swartz could not confirm this, saying no reports had reached the Western Cape media centre.
Farmworkers in the area started protesting last week in demand of R150-a- day wage and better working conditions.
Last Thursday, Zille was heckled by supporters of expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema while visiting the area.
She had to be escorted away by police when her entourage was pelted with stones by the striking farmworkers.
Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson was expected to meet Zuma on Wednesday to obtain his support for higher wages for farmworkers. – Sapa
Two Metrorail trains have been set alight in Mabopane, the company said on Friday.
Five coaches carrying passengers caught fire at Kopanong station while in Akasia only one coach was burnt down at 22:00 on Thursday. Both trains were enroute to Mabopane from Koedoespoort , Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said.
Mofokeng said the cause of the fire was unknown. Several other coaches were however vandalised. No injuries had been reported.
She said they were not able to assess the extent of the damage because of the rain, but it seemed severe.
Commuters were advised to organise alternative transport as the services in the Mabopane corridor were shut down until further notice.
“It will be impossible to operate trains in this corridor due to the severe nature of the damage of these trains and the electrical overhead cables…commuters are advised to make their own transport arrangements…,” Gauteng Metrorail manager Tembela Kulu said.
Two more trucks were set alight in Kempton Park in the ongoing truck driver strike, bringing the total to five.
The two latest incidents took place on Tuesday afternoon and early on Wednesday morning.
A burning eight-ton truck caused peak hour chaos at the intersection of André Greyvensteyn and Pretoria roads in Isando on Tuesday afternoon at around 4pm.
This incident caused truck drivers on the R24, which runs parallel to André Greyvensteyn, to make U-turns on the highway, travelling in the yellow lane against oncoming traffic.
“About 11 trucks either stopped next to the road or made U-turns and travelled against oncoming traffic to avoid contact with strikers. We escorted the trucks safely to their destinations,” Insp Kobeli Mokheseng, metro police spokesman, said.
“No strikers were arrested on the scene but the police are investigating the incident with the help of CCTV cameras in the area,” Mokheseng said.
Mr Kobus du Toit, a Van Riebeeck Park resident, witnessed about 15 strikers stoning a truck at the bridge on the P91 near Pretoria Road on Wednesday morning at 7.15am.
They then poured petrol onto it and set it alight. He said the strikers ran away immediately afterwards.
According to Mokheseng the truck was deserted when the metro police arrived. Both the driver and the strikers were gone.
The road remained closed until about 9am.
In the meantime, Mpact Recycling, formerly Mondi Recycling, said, as a result of a number of violent incidents and intimidation involving trucks in and around Johannesburg, a disruption in its paper collection may occur.
“While thankfully no one has been injured, the safety of our drivers is of paramount importance. As a result we are treating the current areas identified, which include the industrial areas of Boksburg, Kempton Park and Jet Park, with caution,” a spokesman said.
“We intend to continue with paper collections in all residential areas but efforts may be somewhat disrupted due to on-going violence.”
A burning eight-ton truck caused peak hour chaos at the intersection of André Greyvensteyn and Pretoria roads in Isando on Tuesday afternoon at around 4pm.
This incident caused truck drivers on the R24, which runs parallel to André Greyvensteyn, to make U-turns on the highway, travelling in the yellow lane against oncoming traffic.
“About 11 trucks either stopped next to the road or made U-turns and travelled against oncoming traffic to avoid contact with strikers. We escorted the trucks safely to their destinations,” Insp Kobeli Mokheseng, metro police spokesman, said.
“No strikers were arrested on the scene but the police are investigating the incident with the help of CCTV cameras in the area,” Mokheseng said.
Mr Kobus du Toit, a Van Riebeeck Park resident, witnessed about 15 strikers stoning a truck at the bridge on the P91 near Pretoria Road on Wednesday morning at 7.15am.
They then poured petrol onto it and set it alight. He said the strikers ran away immediately afterwards.
According to Mokheseng the truck was deserted when the metro police arrived. Both the driver and the strikers were gone.
The road remained closed until about 9am.
In the meantime, Mpact Recycling, formerly Mondi Recycling, said, as a result of a number of violent incidents and intimidation involving trucks in and around Johannesburg, a disruption in its paper collection may occur.
“While thankfully no one has been injured, the safety of our drivers is of paramount importance. As a result we are treating the current areas identified, which include the industrial areas of Boksburg, Kempton Park and Jet Park, with caution,” a spokesman said.
“We intend to continue with paper collections in all residential areas but efforts may be somewhat disrupted due to on-going violence.” – looklocal Kempton Park
AngloGold Ashanti's Mponeng gold mine near Fochville
Striking black mine workers at the Mponeng mine near Carletonville, west of Johannesburg, have issued death threats to white office workers at the mine. Yesterday they were told not to come to work today, unless they wanted to be killed.
White office staff were told to assemble at the Jacaranda garage in Fochville. An eyewitness and businesswoman in the town lives about 800 meters from the garage and she saw 200 white mine and office workers at the garage this morning.
Helicopters were circling from early this morning, with emergency vehicles coming and going.
Yesterday an unspecified number of people were hurt in the strikes, with several mine workers arrested.
According to the businesswoman, “Things are bad here in Fochville.”
South African truck drivers are now officially on strike, according to radio station RSG. Over the long weekend the were threatening to go on strike after several months of failed salary negotiations with employers, the main transport workers’ union said Sunday.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has given notice of plans to strike from Monday, though because there was a public holiday the stayaway would not take effect until Tuesday, a spokesman said.
“There is currently a recommended offer by the employers that we are considering, but we hope to check with our membership…. We are going to contact our members on Tuesday morning,” the union’s Vincent Masoga told AFP.
Masoga said truckers are seeking a 12-percent increase for 2013 and 2014. He refused to say how much the employers’ association is offering, but local broadcaster Talk 702 put the figure at eight percent.
South Africa’s central bank has forecast inflation will hold steady at around five percent through 2014.
The Road Freight Association of transport employers was not immediately available for comment.
A strike could disrupt retail and fuel supply chains in the country, which was swept by violent strikes in its crucial mining sector in recent weeks. – Sapa and RSG
Police used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse a group of people gathered near Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) in Rustenburg on Wednesday, said a spokesman.
“Police dispersed people trying to gather illegally. As we have said, we are not tolerating any illegal gatherings,” said Captain Dennis Adriao.
“Police utilised teargas and stun grenades, and rubber bullets were used at the [nearby] squatter camp.”
Amplats spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said: “I can confirm that [the police have] dispersed a group of people gathering illegally at Sondela informal settlement.
“We do not know why the people were gathered and cannot confirm if they are our employees. As reported yesterday [Tuesday], our mines are operational…”
Last week, government ministers in Cabinet’s security cluster said the government would no longer tolerate violence, threats and intimidation taking place in the mining sector, as massive strikes sprang up along Rustenburg’s platinum belt, with another one near Carletonville.
The measures included a crackdown on illegal gatherings, the carrying of dangerous weapons, incitement, and threats of violence against anyone in the affected areas.
Adriao said that for large groups of people to gather, in terms of the Regulation of Gatherings Act, they had to give notice to the local municipality for the gathering to take place.
Section four set out certain conditions for the gathering.
“Police need to be present, emergency services need to be on standby, marshalls present the whole day. Water points need to be established,” said Adriao.
The relevant municipality in this case was Rustenburg.
Further details were not immediately available, but SAFM reported that mineworkers near Jabula and Thembelani mine had been arrested and that the gathering was related to an unprotected pay strike.
After suspending operations last week, citing employee safety due to the situation in the region, Amplats resumed operations on Tuesday.
Workers were paid over the suspension period, and praised the company for this.
On Friday, during the operations suspension, they marched to the company’s Bleskop stadium and decided that they also wanted a salary increase.
Unlike their mining colleagues at other operations, who were seeking R12,500, they said they wanted R16,070 and other modifications to their fringe benefits.
On Tuesday night a lengthy strike at nearby Lonmin ended with a wage agreement.
Striking mineworkers who had gathered at Gold Fields’ KDC west mine near Carletonville on Saturday morning have dispersed, the company said.
Spokesman Sven Lunsche said the area was calm and protesters had returned to their hostels.
Wage talks between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and management] would get underway either on Sunday or Monday, said Lunsche.
Miners affiliated to the NUM went on strike on Sunday. Their demands included the removal of NUM branch leadership at the mine, pay equalisation and a pay increase to R12,500.
Thousands of workers converged at the mine this week, causing disruptions and intimidation.
On Tuesday, expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema called for the resignation of NUM leaders, including its general secretary Frans Baleni, who was reportedly earning R1,4 million a year, according to the Mail & Guardian. – Sapa
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