COSATU Today, Wednesday 9 December 2009

After more than 500 workers appeared outside the Labour Court in Braamfontein to protest Pick’ n Pay’s intention to interdict SACCAWU members in an attempt to stop the planned strike against racism in the workplace, the company decided to withdraw its interdict which was going to be heard in the Labour Court today.

The strike action planned for Friday 11 December 2009 expects more than 25 000 SACCAWU members taking to the streets.

Mass marches will be staged in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Durban. The protest in Cape Town has been postponed to 18 December 2009 due to the refusal by SAPS to grant permission for this action on the day.

The key issues the workers want changed are the continuing racism experienced by our members at the hands of the company and its managers. This include, amongst others, the tendency to fast-track the promotion of white staff from 'casual' employees to management position, overlooking full-time employed black staff with decades of experience, racial utterances against blacks by the CEO Nick Badminton while he still headed Pick 'n Pay Western Cape.

The company also tend to treat white management staff differently from black staff in disciplinary hearings when facing similar charges.

Details of the protests, demands and the memorandum to be submitted to the company will follow.

1.2 COSATU disappointed with Mabatho High Court outcome

Solly Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 8 December 2009

COSATU has expressed disappointment with the outcome of Mmabatho high court’s review of the case of a farmer who was found guilty on 21 May 2009 after setting dogs on a domestic worker. As the federation our view is that the review is based on colour not facts.

Therefore COSATU thinks the restarting of this case is uncalled-for and unprocedural, because the case cannot be reviewed on the basis that the accused did not have an Afrikaans interpreter.

It cannot be correct that objection to the finding is done after eight months.

COSATU demands that the racist farmer be arrested while the case is been reviewed.

COSATU calls on the Department of Justice to do justice to all people not to only those have money. This case is very clear that the Department of Justice is not leading the community of this province properly.

A domestic worker, Johana Shomoleka, is currently in pain from the dog bites. She also lost her son due to the same matter. Is that we call justice in South Africa?

1.3 Sun International South Africa Strike enters its fifth day

Mike Abrahams, SACCAWU’s Spokesperson, 8 December 2009

SACCAWU members at all Sun International establishments throughout the country today entered their fifth day of strike action to push for their demands for wage increases, improvement of terms and conditions of employment and other related issues.

Despite all attempts by SACCAWU to get the Company to come to an agreement the company steadfastly refused any of the reasonable and legitimate demands by workers.

The response by SACCAWU members throughout the country has seen widespread support for the strike with an average of more than 70% of workers nationally heeding the call for strike action.

Despite exercising the discipline associated with our struggles and in compliance with the agreed strike and picketing rules we have seen the use of police violence in attempts to provoke violence and discredit our strike. In the Western Cape which increasingly is becoming notorious for its use of the police to attack our strikes has once again done so.

At Board Walk as well as Grand West our striking members were attacked by the police in which rubber bullets were used in shooting at striking workers. Further, a full-time shop steward and local SACCAWU official were arrested in what seem clearly as provocative actions by police and subsequently spent the first night of the strike in police cells. They were released after bail of R500-00 were posted and will appear in Court in February 2010. These actions were clearly provoked by police who continuously interfered with striking workers on the picket-line.

At the same time the Sun International has locked-out striking workers at some of its establishments including Board Walk and Grand West as the Company try and break the determination and unity of workers.

SACCAWU will again meet with the Company at the CCMA on Wednesday to explore further negotiations towards resolving the dispute. SACCAWU members remain determined and united behind the demands and we hope the Company will sincerely put forward an offer that recognises the legitimacy of workers demand and respond effectively to it that will break the deadlock and end the strike.

SACCAWU is convinced that victory is certain.

1.4 COSATU supports SACCAWU strike at Meropa Casino

Dan Sebabi, COSATU Limpopo Provincial Secretary, 9 December 2009

COSATU Limpopo Province has fully supported the SACCAWU strike at Meropa Casino and Entertainment Centre outside Polokwane.

The union and management have deadlocked on the following reasonable demands :

· 13 % Across the Board Wage increase demand.

· Employment of scheduled / casual / part-time employees on a full-time basis.

· Tips for services provided not to be surrendered to the employer’s coffers.

The current average Basic Salary stands at about R 4 400. 00 per month.

COSATU calls upon workers in the same sector, especially those casual employees who are not paid any basic salary but take home only tips, to join SACCAWU NOW for the betterment of their working conditions.

2. South Africa

2.1 POPCRU’s message of support to SACP’s Special National Congress

POPCRU Secretariat, 8 December 2009

POPCRU has welcomed the convening of the SACP Special National Congress held few days after its Extended National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting in which numerous resolves were reached affecting its members in the Justice Cluster. The union is content that the Working Class Agenda is on a resounding mode after the successful COSATU 10^th National Congress and all resolutions achieved will assert our struggle towards Decent Jobs and Socialism.

POPCRU embraces the SACP Red October Campaign theme around ‘Taking our Communities seriously” and discourage any form of anarchy in protesting. We have deliberated in our meetings displeasure at our Police Officers who attack workers during protest action and we reiterate that we will disown such abuse of power by our members.

POPCRU agreed that the current Global Recession that ravaged our country and the world at large has been as a result of the capitalist world economy crumbling on its knees because of its incapability to sustain itself. We welcome the political will we have witnessed by our ANC-led Government to manage and steer the delivery of services for our majority poor and downtrodden.

The SACP through its Special National Congress provides an opportunity to analyze all challenges and map a way forward to realize the strategic objectives for the working class in our country and the world. We support a principle of continuity as is not a new phenomenon for our leaders to led the party and assert working class interest in the state.

POPCRU supports a strong SACP to consolidate Political Education for our members and therefore POPCRU wishes SACP well in shaping the vanguard of our workers in the South African Police Services, Department of Correctional Services and Department of Traffic as members of SACP across all Provinces.

Forward with acceleration of service delivery!

Forward with the Working Class Power for Decent Jobs and Socialism!

Forward with the Advancement of Working Class Power in the Justice Cluster!

2.2 Teacher Laptop Initiative Launch

ELRC General Secretary, Mr M Govender, 8 December 2009

The launch of the Teacher Laptop Initiative, to be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria on 11th December 2009, seeks to address South Africa’s need for a quality education system. This initiative forms part of a cohesive plan by the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) and other stakeholders in education to improve the overall quality of education by making resources available to learners and educators in the public education sector. It also forms a central part of the DoBE’s objective to expand the utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.

The primary aim of the Teacher Laptop Initiative is to make laptops available to all teachers in the public education sector. This is meant to improve the quality of teaching, as teachers will have access to additional resources that can enhance learning and teaching in the classroom. All laptops will have Internet access and will be loaded with school administration and national curriculum software. The Government Gazette No 32207 of 8 May 2009 determined the policy related to payment of the laptop allowance to teachers, and the specifications of the laptops to be availed. Purchases by teachers of laptops within this scheme will be phased in from February 2010. Provincial Education Departments will implement the project and inform teachers about the venture.

The official launch will consist of exhibitions by the nine accredited suppliers that have been selected to participate in the initiative. A mock-up classroom exhibition, where learners and teachers will have a practical demonstration of how laptops can enhance learning and teaching in the classroom has also been arranged. The media will have the opportunity to engage with teachers, learners, and consortiums to hear their views on how the initiative can contribute to the teaching and learning experience in the classroom.

The launch will coincide with the Council of Education Ministers Meeting, overseen by the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, MP. The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Mr Enver Surty, MP, will deliver the keynote address over the lunch hour. Other prominent stakeholders in education that will be attending the launch include provincial MECs; provincial Heads of Education Departments, Presidents of the educator trade unions in the ELRC, CTU-ITU (NAPTOSA, NATU; PEU; SAOU) and CTU-SADTU (SADTU; CTPA) as well as prominent members of the various consortia.

The media is formally invited to the launch that will take place as follows:

Venue: Sheraton Pretoria Hotel

643 Cnr Church & Wessels

Arcadia

                        PRETORIA
Date:               11^th December 2009
Time:              9h00 – 15h00

2.3 SAMA decries shortage of surgical and medical supplies in Gauteng Hospitals

Adri van Eeden SAMA Corporate Communications, 8 December 2009

SAMA has noted with concern the continuous shortage of surgical and medical supplies at several hospitals in Gauteng Province, apparently due to non-payment of vendors by the Provincial Government. Lack of basic items such as plaster of paris and other life saving tools have become the norm in hospitals including the Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospitals. The state of affairs in these hospitals is not acceptable and cannot be allowed to persist.

Whilst the union will not condone incompetent professional conduct by any member of the medical profession, SAMA believes that lack of all the necessary tools for health professionals to work with, may contribute to unfortunate incidents such as the recently publicised case of a child whose hospital-acquired gangrenous legs have had to be amputated and other similar cases.

In addition to poor administration and alleged corruption, we believe the centralization of procurement under the Gauteng Shared Services Scheme to be a huge impediment towards filling of vacant posts, purchase of medical and surgical equipments as well as other supplies for hospitals and clinics in the Province.

SAMA therefore calls upon the Minister of Health and the Government to:

1. Ensure immediate payment to vendors for all outstanding bills so that they can resume supplying hospitals and clinics to enable them to function;

2. To put in place measures to prevent recurrence of interruptions to medical, surgical and other essential supplies for hospital and clinics;

3. Consider disbanding or radically restructuring the Gauteng Government Shared Services and allocate budget to each individual hospital to enable them to plan and prioritise their spending based on their needs-analyses. Such an allocation should be commensurate with their patient loads and level of care based of a model that is just and fair; and

4. To put in place practical measures for implementation of the 10 Point Plan as that will enable public health care facilities to provide some level of health care for citizens, especially whilst consultations regarding NHI are underway.

3. International

3.1 Remember Ark Tribe and send a Christmas Card

Dave Noonan and the Rights on Site campaign team, 9 December 2009

Many of you will be getting caught up in the holiday rush sending cards to long forgotten friends, deciding on the perfect present for the kids from one to ninety-two, and enjoying or slaving over sumptuous meals.

Take a moment to remember Ark Tribe and send a Christmas card to Kevin Rudd.

This Christmas Ark Tribe will spend the holidays with a prison sentence of up to six months hanging over his head, as he waits the outcome of his hearing.

He is charged with not attending an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

We've not forgotten about Ark Tribe, neither should the Rudd Government.

Help us send 10,000 Christmas Cards to Kevin Rudd to remind him that construction workers like Ark don't have the same rights as all other workers.

You can add your personal message to Mr Rudd, and we'll deliver your card in time for Christmas.

All we want for Christmas is to get rid of the coercive powers, which compel construction workers to attend a secret interrogation about workplace issues.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mluleki Mntungwa (Communications Officer)

COSATU ICT Unit

1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Street

Braamfontein

2007

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg

2000

South Africa

Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24

Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940

E-Mail: mlu...@cosatu.org.za

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