Hundreds of clothing jobs on line at Trubok

At least another 400 jobs in the clothing and textile sector are on the line as Trubok plans to lay off workers. This brings the possible job losses in the industry to 1 900 this month alone. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) confirmed yesterday that the union had been given notice by Trubok that the company might embark on retrenchments. The union’s general secretary, Andre Kriel, said: “The formal notice advises that 400 workers may be affected by the proposed restructuring.” It is believed that Trubok, which operates factories in Cape Town, Durban, Newcastle and Port Elizabeth, also plans to merge its factories in the near future. Last week Seardel proposed to retrench at least 1 500 employees as the clothing and textile manufacturer faced shrinking margins. Kriel said although the formal facilitation to the action would begin later this week, Sactwu would oppose both of the proposals in order to protect jobs. Trubok could not be reached for comment yesterday. – Nompumelelo Magwaza

Implats, NUM say no to CCMA help

Impala Platinum (Implats) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will not ask the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to resolve a dispute at Implats’s Rustenburg operations, despite a request by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant yesterday. “We are not going to take that proposal… The NUM and Implats agree,” said NUM national spokesman Lesiba Seshoka. “Implats has basically agreed to take back the workers… so there is no dispute,” he said. Implats spokesman Bob Gilmour agreed. – Sapa

Bus driver strike weakens Gautrain

There had been at least a 10 percent decline in the number of commuters using the Gautrain because of an illegal strike by Gautrain feeder bus drivers, the Bombela Concession company said yesterday. Between 30 000 and 34 000 people use the Gautrain every week. Gautrain bus drivers went on an illegal strike on Wednesday last week and were given until Friday to make representations on why they should not be dismissed. Spokesman Errol Braithwaite said management had not found grounds to halt disciplinary procedures as this was the fourth illegal strike in six months. – Sapa