Newsletter 151
15 December 2008
NATIONAL
BARGAINING COUNCIL
Further to our Newsletter No. 150, we have been contacted by a number of members that would like us to represent the interest of our industry at the public hearing to be held on
5 February 2009, in Nelspruit, in view of the potential impact the decision reached at the meeting could have on our industry.
They believe that this is an industry matter rather than a specific labour problem.
Our contention is that the production activity for the preparation of treated wooden poles does not fall under the definition of a sawmilling activity and, therefore, is not liable to pay the levies as required.
We have been in touch with two of the Employers’ Associations concerned and following their recommendation, we will be preparing both a written and a verbal presentation to support our contention.
The purpose of the meeting is solely to decide on whether or not the treated pole industry falls within the scope of the definition of sawmilling.
We will submit argument that the production of treated poles does not fall within the sawmilling definition.
If any member wishes to attend the meeting on 5 February 2009 at 09h00 at the Mercure Hotel Premier Lodge in Nelspruit, he or she would be welcome.
If any member wishes us to make any specific argument in support of our contention, it would help our cause if you would forward this to us.
Kind regards,
Angus Currie
Nuusbrief / Newsletter 150
8 December 2008
NATIONAL
BARGAINING COUNCIL
We have been advised by
Employers’ Organisation Mpumalanga of a dispute between Low’s Creek Treated
Timber (Pty) Ltd and the National Bargaining Council.
The dispute centres around the
activities carried out by Lows Creeks and if such activities fall within the
defined functions.
I have discussed the matter
with Ari Soldatos, a Director / Attorney of Fluxmans Inc., who specialises in Labour Law.
He proposed that I send the
following advice to you. Notwithstanding
his advice that our Constitution does not permit us to get involved with Labour
legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel I can help.
Kind regards
Angus Currie
|
Fluxmans Inc. Private Bag X41 Saxonwold 2132 3 December 2008 Dear Members Some of you may be well aware of the fact that there appears to be a demarcation dispute which has arisen in the Bargaining Council between Lows Creek Treated Timber (Proprietary) Limited and The National Bargaining Council for the Wood and Paper Sector. As we understand the position, the Bargaining Council in question is claiming to have the necessary authority and jurisdiction to negotiate and conclude collective agreements with organised labour on terms and conditions of employment affecting the industry in which you are engaged. This, to a great extent, seems to be resisted by Lows Creek Treated Timber (Proprietary) Limited. It may well be in your interests to ensure that you are in attendance for the purposes of the conducting of public hearings which will be held at the Mercure Hotel Premier Lodge, in Nelspruit on 5 February 2009 at 09h00. The repercussions of a demarcation dispute of this nature may have a considerable impact on your business and this letter is accordingly addressed to you to ensure that, at the very least, you have the opportunity of submitting whatever issues you wish at that forthcoming hearing. Unfortunately, the nature, scope and ambit of this Association's Constitution does not permit it to become involved in or associated with employment related issues and, should you require advice in this regard, may we respectfully suggest that you obtain your own independent labour advice in order that your interests be appropriately protected. |
SAWPA WEB SITE
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WISHING ALL
OUR MEMBERS A HAPPY FESTIVE SEASON AND
PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
|
Nuusbrief 149
5 November 2008
TEGNIESE
OORWEGINGE
Na besprekings wat tydens ons
onlangse Streeks-, Chemikalieë-Forum- en Uitvoerende Komittee-vergaderings
plaasgevind het, is dit besluit dat die spesifieke tegniese vraagstukke wat
geopper is na werkgeselskappe verwys moet word. Die werkgeselskappe moet oor
die volgende besin en op ‘n plan van aksie besluit: -
OMGEWINGSKWESSIES:
a)
Dit word nie verwag dat die Verpligte
Standaard vir die Behandeling van Hout in Suid-Afrika enige verwysing na
omgewingsvereistes vir die oprigting en bedryf van behandelingsaanlegte sal
vervat nie. Hierinteendeel vereis die Bouregulasies en die Nasionale Registrasieraad van Huisbouers
dat
alle hout behandel moet word ingevolge die vereistes van SANS 10005. Hierdie
Standaard (SANS 10005) bevat die omgewingsvereistes vir die oprigting en bedryf
van behandelingsaanlegte. Dit beteken dat ons nou met twee verskillende
vereistes gaan eindig: een in die Verpligte Standaard en ‘n ander in die
Bouregulasies. Dit sal aangespreek moet word.
b)
Toe
die omgewingskwessies by SANS 10005 (2006) ingelyf is, is daar ooreengekom dat
sekere kwessies as vrywillige praktyke beskou word, maar dat hierdie praktyke,
met die oog daarop om hulle verpligtend te maak, na twee jaar weer hersien sal
word.
Die volgende is hier ter sprake:-
-
Die
verpligte etikettering van behandelde hout wat die nodige voorsorgmaatreëls
verstrek
-
Die
verpligte fiksering van CCA voordat die behandelde hout versprei of gebruik
word.
Ons is tans nie in pas met ander “geïndustrialiseerde”
lande nie, en ons sal moet besluit wat hieroor gedoen moet word.
c) Die
Chemikalieë-Forum wil graag hê dat sy lede moet deel wees van ‘n
Omgewingshandves en hulleself sodoende verbind tot omgewingsaanvaarbare
goeie
praktyke. So ‘n dokument moet nog saamgestel word.
DIE PROMOSIE VAN STAALPRODUKTE
a)
Staal
wingerdpale word aktief as ‘n alternatief vir behandelde houtpale bemark. Die
inligting wat deur die staalbedryf verskaf word, is misleidend en soms gewoon
onwaar. Ons moet ‘n dokument/plakkaat skep wat die miskonsepsies regstel. Ons
moet egter ook daarvan bewus wees dat die voortydige faling van houtwingerdpale
ons pogings om koste-effektiewe behandelde houtpale met ‘n lang lewensduur te
bemark, gaan teenwerk.
b)
Ons
bevind ons ook in ‘n baie kompeterende situasie met staalbourame en dakkappe.
In hierdie geval praat ons alreeds met Saagmeule Suid-Afrika en die
Houtraam-Bouersvereniging om dit reg te stel. ‘n Gesamentlike werkgeselskap is
op die been gebring om die saak te hanteer.
WINGERDPALE
Daar is ooreengekom dat
ondersoek ingestel moet word na die eienskappe wat verlang word om ‘n gepaste
behandelde houtwinderdpaal met ‘n lang lewensduur voor te berei. Die bevindinge
van so ‘n ondersoek moet bespreek word met al die belangrike rolspelers wat by
die behandeling, verspreiding en gebruik van sodanige pale betrokke is. Die
doelwit sou wees om voorsiening te maak vir ‘n behandelde houtwingerdpaal in
SANS 457 en, na gelang van die bevindinge en waar van toepassing, om tussen
denne- en bloekompale te onderskei..
BINNELANDSE HOUTBESMETTING
(Fungus en Insekte)
Die bevindinge van die
ondersoek deur Arch Wood Protection na
die besmetting van gesaagde konstruksiehout wat in die binnelandse areas van
Suid-Afrika gebruik word, het getoon dat die aanval deur fungi en insekte op
hout baie erger is as wat aanvanklik vermoed is.
Ons moet oorweging skenk aan
die toepaslikheid daarvan om die verpligte behandelingsarea te vergroot. Indien
dit wel as toepaslik beskou word, sal ons ook moet bepaal hoe dit kan geskied
met die maksimale ondersteuning en goedgesindheid van alle betrokke partye.
Ten opsigte van die bostaande
punte is daar besluit dat (‘n) werkgeselskap(pe) in die lewe geroep
sal word sodra die nuwe Uitvoerende Direkteur aangestel is. Ek is van mening
dat die aanstelling vroeg in 2009 gedoen sal word. Indien enige lid by die (‘n)
werkgeselskap(pe) wil aansluit, moet julle ons
asseblief laat weet.
KOVERTBEHANDELING
(ENVELOPE TREATMENT) VIR
SKRYNWERKHOUT
Hierdie onderwerp is tydens
die Chemikalieë-Forum
vergadering bespreek. Nieteenstaande die feit dat mens graag so ‘n standaard
wil bekendstel wat behandelingskoste sal afbring, is die probleem egter dat
Suid-Afrikaanse dennehout baie deurtrekbaar is en gevolglik die
behandelinsoplossing in so ‘n mate absorbeer dat dit onmoontlik is om die
retensie so laag te hou soos die van die koevert-tipe vereistes wat in Europa
gebruik word. Dit is ook uitgewys dat die hout wat in Europa vir
skrynwerkdoeleindes gebruik word, hoofsaaklik Spardenhout is. Hierdie tipe hout
is moeilik om te behandel en gevolglik is dit baie makliker om
absorpsie/retensie te beheer.
GEMEENSKAPSGESONDHEIDGEVOLGE WAT VEBRAND HOU MET BLOOTSTELLING AAN
KREOSOOT EN/OF CCA HOUTBEHANDELINGSAANLEGTE
Vanweë
die omvang van hierdie verslag kan ons dit ongelukkig nie by hierdie nuusbrief
insluit nie. Dit is egter op ons webtuiste beskikbaar, www.sawpa.org.za
Kliek asseblief op “Topical Issues.”
SAWPA WEBTUISTE
Die totale aantal besoeke vir
Oktober 2008 was 19086.
Newsletter 149
5 November
2008
TECHNICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Following the discussions
which took place at our recent Regional, Chemical Forum and Executive Committee
meetings, it was agreed that the particular technical issues raised should be
referred to Working Groups to consider and act on the following matters:-
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
a)
The Compulsory Standard for the Treatment of Timber
in South Africa, is not expected to incorporate any reference to the
environmental requirements for the construction and operation of treatment
plants. In contrast the Building
Regulations and the NHBRC regulations require that timber shall be treated in
terms of the requirements of SANS 10005.
This Standard (SANS 10005) incorporates the environmental requirements
for the construction and operation of treatment plants. We will be left with differing requirements
in the Compulsory Standard on the one hand and the Building requirements on the
other. This will need to be sorted out.
b)
When
the environmental issues were incorporated into SANS 10005 (2006) it was agreed
that certain matters be regarded as voluntary practices, but that they be reconsidered
to be made compulsory two years later.
These matters are:-
-
The
compulsory labeling of treated timber giving the necessary precautions
-
The
compulsory fixation of CCA prior to dispatch or use of the treated timber
We are out of step with other ‘industrialised’ countries
and we need to decide what needs
to be done.
c) The Chemical Forum would like
its members to be party to an Environmental Charter
and thereby commit themselves to environmentally acceptable good
practices. Such a
document needs to be complied.
STEEL PRODUCTS PROMOTION
a)
Steel
vineyard posts are being seriously promoted in competition to treated wooden
poles. The information being used by the
steel industry is misleading and in some instances downright false. We need to bring out a document / poster
which sets the matter right, but we do need to be aware that premature failure
of vineyard wooden poles in service will rather negate our efforts to promote
long life cost effective treated wooden poles.
b)
We are
also experiencing a serious competitive situation from steel building frames
and trusses. In this case moves are
already being made with Saw Milling South Africa and the Timber Frame Builders Association
to correct the situation. A joint
Working Group to deal with this particular matter has been formed.
VINEYARD POLES
It was agreed that we need to
investigate what the properties required are in order to prepare a suitable long-lasting
treated wooden vineyard pole. The
findings of such an investigation should be discussed with all the important
role players involved with the treatment, distribution and use of such poles. The goal would be to provide for a treated
wooden vineyard pole in SANS 457 and according to the findings and where
applicable, to differentiate between pine and gum poles.
INLAND TIMBER INFESTATIONS
(Fungal and Insecticidal)
The findings of Arch Wood
Protection’s investigation into the infestation of sawn construction timber
being used in the inland areas of South Africa, has shown that the attack on
timber by fungi and insects is much worse than was thought to be the case.
We need to consider the
appropriateness of enlarging the compulsory treatment area. If it is considered appropriate, we need to
determine how this can be accomplished with maximum support and goodwill of all
concerned.
In all the above, it was
agreed that the Working Group (s) be appointed / assembled once the new
Executive Director is appointed which I
believe could well be achieved early in 2009.
If any member would like to join the Working Group (s) please let us
know.
ENVELOPE
TREATMENT FOR JOINERY TIMBER
This subject was discussed at
the Chemical Forum meeting. It is understood
that, notwithstanding the fact that it is desirable to introduce such a
standard which would lead to a reduction in treatment costs, the problem is
that SA Pine is so permeable and consequently readily absorbs the treatment
solution to such an extent, that it would be impossible to keep the retention
down to envelope type requirements as are used in Europe. It was pointed out that the timber being used
in Europe for joinery purposes is mainly Spruce which is difficult to treat and
as a result it is so much easier to control absorption / retention.
COMMUNITY HEALTH EFFECTS RELATED TO EXPOSURES FROM CREOSOTE AND/OR CCA
WOOD TREATMENT PLANTS
Due to
the size of this report we are not able to include this with this newsletter, however
it is available on our website: www.sawpa.org.za and please click on
Topical Issues.
SAWPA WEB SITE
Total hits for October 2008 were
19086.
Nuusbrief / Newsletter 148
6 October 2008
ANGUS’
RETIREMENT FROM SAWPA
I will be retiring from SAWPA
with effect from the end of December 2008. I have been requested by
the Executive Committee to continue after that on a part-time basis, until
a replacement has been identified and engaged. Thereafter, I will
continue on a part-time basis to help my replacement to settle into his new
position with all its responsibilities and also to arrange the African Regional
Conference which is due to be held in November 2009.
The Executive Committee has
decided:-
·
that my replacement must be someone with a good
working knowledge of timber preservation and the timber preservation industry
in South Africa,
·
that I should identify candidates for the
position and submit to the Executive Committee a short list of those considered
to be particularly suitable.
The following ‘Vacancy
Advertisement’ will also be printed in the next issue of the Wood SA
Magazine. You are hereby invited to
respond if you so wish.
SOUTH AFRICAN
WOOD PRESERVERS ASSOCIATION
New
Executive Director for SAWPA sought
Angus Currie, Executive Director of the
South African Wood Preservers Association is set to step down.
The Association is currently looking for a suitable candidate to fill
this position.
Key considerations and objectives in sourcing a likely candidate is the
ability of the candidate to run SAWPA with all it entails e.g. budgets, cash
flow, debtors, creditors and its management. A suitable background to or
knowledge of the timber treatment industry in South Africa is also crucial.
The main objectives of SAWPA encompasses the following: -
·
to maintain contact with members through the established committees
·
managing its monthly newsletter
·
promoting the use of treated timber
·
responding to consumer and member enquiries
·
involvement in regional affairs and meetings
·
keeping members informed on the development of new wood preservatives
·
involvement in the health and safety legislation requirements with the
preparation of the necessary protocols
·
communicating changes in health and safety requirements to the members