2016 S&V Newsletter No 14, April 11

S&V Footwear and Leather Goods / S&V African Leather

Please note: Click on any ad to go to the advertiser’s website

Against background of inflation and short time, wage negotiation ‘season’ begins

Durban (SA) – Following the first round of wage negotiations between employers and unions in the General Goods & Handbags section last week, both NULAW and SACTWU were demanding 11.5%, down from their starting positions of 15% and 12% respectively, according to Gerald Naidoo, general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA.
Their next round is on May 10 and 11.
The first round of the Footwear section is on April 25 and 26. He did not disclose the starting position of the unions in this section.
The Tanning section last year negotiated a 2-year agreement, which “provides for a 7.5% across-the-board increase to become effective from 1 July 2016, provided that in the event CPI as at April 2016 exceeds 8%, then the trade unions may elect to renegotiate the increase in wages,” Naidoo said. “Emanating from the 2015 wage negotiations, the parties to the Tanning section will meet before the end of June 2016 to consider prescribed wage rates applicable in the effluent plant.”
SAFLIA will hold its CEO’s meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the footwear employers’ position.

SAFLEC to exhibit in Turkey and Japan

Durban (SA) – SAFLEC has invited manufacturers to apply to exhibit at trade fairs in Turkey and Japan.
Closing date to apply for Aymod Turkey is April 15. The fair will be held from September 28-October 1.
Closing date for Fashion World Tokyo is April 30. The fair dates are November 7-9.
Contact Prenisha. – [+27 (0)31 266 1472, info2@saflec.co.za]
In a release, SAFLEC executive director Nerisha Jairaj said SAFLEC would also be “supporting DTI-ITI’s, as part of our Africa Strategy”.

• South Sudan           - Awaiting dates
• Senegal and Cameroon - Applications closed.
• Zimbabwe              - Applications Closed
• Zambia                - Awaiting Dates
• Ghana/Nigeria         - Awaiting dates
• DRC                   - Awaiting dates
• Mozambique            -Applications closed.

Fram production restored after power spike

Johannesburg (SA) – Most production at BBF Safety Group’s Fram division was halted for almost 2 days after a suspected electrical spike burnt out the motors on 2 machines over the weekend of April 2 and 3.
Group HR executive Rajen Reddy, who is acting GM at Fram, said there had been a power dip which had apparently been followed by a spike.
Motors on both the PU/rubber and the double density PU direct injection moulding machines had burnt out, and the pumps and tanks on both machines had been blocked when the PU solidified.
The PU gumboot machine, which produces on behalf of the Wayne Plastics division, was unaffected, as was the vulcanising line.
“We’re not working weekends, so it wasn’t picked up until Monday,” he said. “That’s a security issue we’re now addressing.”
He said BBF had had a number of production problems at Fram since moving some lines from its other plants last year. “There were maintenance and competence issues,” he said. “We have a 90 day turnaround strategy for Fram which is currently being executed and we confidently envisage that all the issues will be resolved.” – [+27 (0)11 332 1500, rajen.reddy@bbfsafety.com]

LRA seminars

Durban (SA) – SAFLIA will host seminars on amendments to the Labour Relations Act (LRA) in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Dates have yet to be finalised, but they will probably be a month apart, starting in May. – [0800SAFLIA, info@saflia.co.za]

Appointments

Cape Town (SA) – Fahiem Frizlar recently joined the Bolton Footwear Group as marketing manager. He has more than 14 years’ experience in the marketing industry, mostly in retail. He has been building brands in various marketing positions at Woolworths in their menswear department, Ackermans in homeware and new store openings division, RCS looking after its RCS retail store card portfolio, and marketing manager at Sports Illustrated magazine.

ABSA Agri Trends 05/04: Hides & skins prices

The average hide price traded higher over the past week at R14.15/kg green. Hide prices are determined by the average of RMAA and independent companies.
The average price for Dorper skins traded higher at R64.55/skin and Merino lower at R87.92/skin.
The average price for ostrich skins dropped 0.62% to R1499.35.
Ostrich raw meat exports rose 0.36% to R42.09/kg. Heat treated meat rose 0.31% to R31.93, and domestic meat sales stayed the same at R11.61.

They Said It

"She is still sulking about her birthday not being mentioned in the S&V Newsletter." - Bernadine Sweet, PA to the MD at Little Slipper, about CEO Kate Horne.

Milestones

Charlie Meyer, retired former engineer at Jordan Shoes, died last Thursday.

Birthdays this week

11/04/1957: Isak Jacob Viljoen, Health Shoes & Accessories Centre, Nelspruit.
11/04/1966: Melanie Rothman, Bagshaw Footwear, Port Elizabeth.
12/04/1922: Harry Hoyte, retired, formerly Hoyte Shoes/agent, Durban.
13/04/1970: Jason Wilkins, agent/retailer, Johannesburg.
13/04/1976: Gareth Kemp, Apollo Brands, Cape Town.
14/04/1946: Pierre Lailvaux, formerly Service Agencies [closed], Durban.
15/04/1971: Jacques Ergas, Red Planet Shoes, Cape Town.
17/04/1948: Graham Althorpe, agent, East London.
17/04/1948: William James Mail, Norton Wellworth Agencies, Johannesburg.
17/04/1957: Colin Battle, agent, Port Elizabeth.

In Memoriam this week

13/04/2014: Theuns JK Viljoen (b. 25/12/1942), Divac, George.

Classified Adverts

Importer of Exclusive “best in class” International Brands - seeks agents countrywide

Shirnat Fashion International wishes to appoint agents. Targeted Distribution Channels: Department Stores, Fashion Boutiques, Outdoor Lifestyle. Product categories include: backpacks, Women’s and Men’s footwear, outerwear, Designer Handbags, Outdoor Branded Apparel, Accessories, Footwear.

University Student Backpacks – Lifetime Warrantee - all areas EXCEPT Gauteng.

Women’s footwear – Famous USA and European Fashion Brands - all areas.

Women’s Handbags - Famous USA Fashion Brand - all areas.

Men’s footwear – Denim friendly work-styled boots and shoes, deerskin moccasins - all areas. Where viable, preference will be given to agents specialising in one of these product categories.

Reply to: vinita@shirnat.com

SALE OF BUSINESS

Well established business looking to sell retail operations, 2 stores plus online business and wholesale operations.

Email shikandhee@gmail.com for details

Contact us

News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za

Next newsletter: April 18, 2016

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