COSATU Today, 23 May 2012
Patrick Craven
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Our side of the story
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Contents
Ø Day 2 of wage negotiations for Local Gov sector – no major progress
Ø Wits students embark on hunger strike in support of 17 dismissed workers
Ø COSATU NW intensifies its action against Swartruggens toll plaza
Ø Spatial development framework for city of Cape Town
Ø COSATU NW disappointed at outcome of Eugene Terreblanche murder case
Ø COSATU, Kopano Ke Matla and e-tolls – a correction
Ø Patrick Craven, COSATU National Spokesperson, 23 May 2012
Ø COSATU NW Provincial Executive Committee Decisions
Ø SACP welcomes dti announcement on labelling of goods from Israel
Ø Labour broker workers have no rights
Ø Shoulder to shoulder: South African workers and WFTU
Workers
Day 2 of wage negotiations for Local Gov sector – no major progress
Tahir Sema, SAMWU National Media and Publicity Officer, 22 May 2012
The second day of the first round did not produce any major progress in wage talks for the 230 00 Local Government workers. Much time was spent attempting to get the employers’ association, SALGA, to withdraw demands to cancel the Main Agreement and the Disciplinary Code. Attempts by SAMWU and IMATU to do this were unsuccessful as SALGA maintained its view that these agreements had to be terminated.
The further attempts to short circuit existing disputes on a retirement fund for the sector, medical aid scheme arrangements and a housing allowance by SALGA also had to be addressed. No progress on these matters was possible.
After an exchange of views about the state of Local Government finance and the needs of municipal workers, both trade Unions and SALGA agreed to modify their proposals for the 2012/13 financial year. The unions moved to 13% or R2000, whichever is greater and a minimum wage of R6000. SALGA made a marginal improvement of 0.5% to 4.5% whilst offering no cash adjustment and wanted the existing minimum wage in the sector to remain as is.
SAMWU was exceedingly disappointed by the tiny movement made by SALGA. Their offer is still below inflation. The attempt to make municipal workers take a real pay cut this year is completely unacceptable. This is not a good sign that SALGA is serious about resolving these negotiations peacefully. The commitment of SAMWU is still to try to resolve the negotiations with as little as possible disruption to municipal services.
To this end, the leadership of SAMWU will be consulting its members ahead of the next round of negotiations in Durban next week. Members will have to consider whether the positions tabled by SALGA are sincerely attempting to provide the best grounds for labour relations in the sector.
Wits students embark on hunger strike in support of 17 dismissed workers
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 23 May 2012
The call for the reinstatement of 17 black workers that were dismissed by Royal Mnandi Catering Services at Wits University is gaining momentum with the student worker alliance working together to pressure management of the institution to intervene. After a march on the 16th of May 2012, demanding the reinstatement of the workers; concerned students have since embarked on a hunger strike since Sunday in order to put pressure on management.
They have refused to be idle witnesses to the exploitation of the workers and are not prepared to consume food produced on the back of oppressed and tearful workers and their families. We take our hats off to these courageous students who are vocal and fearless in their principled fight for social justice.
The time has arrived for the management of Wits University to intervene and safeguard the reputation and integrity of their institution. We also call on all progressive South Africans to add their voice of support for the workers and condemn the flouting of labour procedures in dealing with the dismissed 17 workers.
Today at 7 pm, NEHAWU leaders and those of other formations will be addressing students and workers in support of their action. We want the Wits university management to be held accountable for this unacceptable state of affairs during the examination period.NEHAWU remains unwavering in its commitment to defend and advance the rights and gains of the workers and the working class in general.
Bontekoe mine disaster
Tshepo 'Footsoldier' Mogorosi, SACP N Cape Provincial Spokesperson, 23 May 2012
The SACP in the province is disturbed to learn that there are community members of Kommagas and the surrounding towns trapped in tunnels which were closed by the mine, owned in part by the British Firestone Mining company.
The Party would like to take this opportunity to wish the rescue team and all involved good luck in their endeavour to rescue the remaining diggers who are still trapped in the tunnels since the early hours of Tuesday morning.
We further would like to wish a speedy recovery to all those who were rescued and are still in hospital and lower our banners to those who have lost their life’s trying to put bread and butter on their family’s tables.
We view this incident as awake-up call to all (especially De Beers mining company) as this is not for the first time a similar accident happens in the same mine.
The plight of the communities
As the SACP we believe that the interest of the working class and the poor as well as our communities is being undermined by these big mining companies.
Last month (April) the Mining Company decided to close the mine and leaving the community of Kommagas about 80% unemployed as a result of 60% of the workers at this mine have been retrenched.
Subsequently the community of Hondeklibaai is now 95% unemployed and 40% of which were workers at the same mine.
There is no real investment in these communities by the company, except a water pipeline they provided and of which cannot supply the town adequately with water.
What needs to be done?
The SACP further takes this opportunity to caution anyone in our communities not to risk with their lives striving to put bread and butter on their tables.
Secondly we want De Beers and its cronies to take full responsibility of what happened.
Thirdly we call on government especially the Department of Minerals and Resources to push for the rehabilitation process to be speedup and that the community should be considered first. Mining co-operatives that have registered in the area for small scale mining should also be prioritized.
Lastly the Social Development department must speedup the rolling out of the 426 000 grants through Sassa and especially the R79 million set aside for research and development in the province as per their budget speech yesterday.
NUM Pre-Congress briefing
Lesiba Seshoka, NUM Spokesman, 22 May 2012
The National Union of Mineworkers holds its 14th National Congress as from today, 23rd May 2012 to 26th May 2012 at Emperors Palace in Ekurhuleni under the theme “30 years of unbroken revolutionary trade unionism struggle”. The congress which coincides with the union’s 30 years of existence will consider the report of the General Secretary as well as the finance report of the treasurer as per the NUM ‘s constitution. The congress will amongst others debate and make decisions on the following:
Energy Policy
For months on end the NUM has embarked on an investigation into nuclear energy in particular to find out on its feasibility given that the state has previously spent some R10 billion at the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) in what was to become a futile exercise. Furthermore, the Fukushima disaster threw doubt over nuclear power though those pro-nuclear argue that Fukushima was more of a natural disaster than a nuclear one. Government has vowed to erect six new reactors. The NUM’s traditional stance and policy is that of being anti-nuclear. The conference will discuss all these at length and make a decision on whether given all these the union will remain anti-nuclear and campaign vociferously against it or will review its policy to be pro.
SIMS Report
Congress will further discuss the outcomes of the ANC’s report on nationalisation and super taxes and decide whether it is being endorsed, requires certain amendments or is just rejected outright.
ANC leadership
The NUM remains of the view that leadership in the ANC should be decided based on the capacity and calibre of candidates. The NUM will at the right time evaluate the current leadership and based on performance make pronouncements.
Nationalisation
On nationalisation, a number of regions are proposing the re-nationalization of SASOL, Acerlor-Mittal and the Cement manufacturing and that there be a regulation of Bitumen on both availability and pricing. Furthermore, the regions are pushing for the establishment of a Construction Bargaining Council. All these will be put before congress for debates.
Labour broking and E-tolling
Regions have re-iterated the need to ban labour brokers and have re-affirmed the COSATU resolution on rejecting the e-tolling system and any further tolling of the public roads network.
Transformation of the judiciary and review of the constitution
Regions have submitted motions for the review of the South African constitution as well as the transformation of the judiciary as envisaged by the ANC and the State President. The argument is that the judiciary must be completely transformed to address the historical questions of class, gender and race and that the insinuation by liberal opportunists in suggesting that both the transformation of the judiciary and the review of the constitution signal a threat to democracy should be rejected.
Honour to the founders of the NUM
The NUM will during congress award its highest honour of “Kgao ya Bahale” to its founding General Secretary comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, founding President comrade James Motlatsi and posthumously to its Deputy President comrade Elijah Barayi.
30th Anniversary
The NUM will hold a gala dinner on the evening of the 25th to celebrate its 30 years of existence. The gala dinner will be addressed by former NUM General Secretary Kgalema Motlanthe and former President James Motlatsi.
South Africa
COSATU NW intensifies its action against Swartruggens toll plaza
Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2012
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province is continuing with its mass action against the most expensive toll gate in the country.
When COSATU was at the toll gate on 11 May 2012 we made a promise that we will come back every two weeks if our demands are not met. As part of that promise COSATU will go back to the toll gate on 25th May 2012 and this time it will be in a form of a motorcade.
This is part of our mass actions in the province to take our program off the ground, fighting against e-tolling which includes the Swartruggens tollgate which is the most expensive in SA, and the fight against the labour brokers.
Members of COSATU will assemble in the Swartruggens town with all their vehicles and from there they will make a procession to the tollgate which will start from the Koster junction to the toll gate and driving back.
As COSATU this is one form of displaying our dissatisfaction on the price of the tollgate and the poor quality of the road which continues to deteriorate.
COSATU invites all the motorists who are affected by this tollgate to join us as we protest.
The action will take place on Friday 25th May 2012 from 12h00 to 18h00 and will start in the Swartruggens town as mentioned above
COSATU still maintains its demand that the toll fee must be reduced to R20 and we would also like to take this opportunity to make motorists aware that the R71 they pay is for 190 kilometres irrespective of your destination and there are no discounts for frequent users and public transport operators.
As COSATU we believe that it is unfair for motorists who are not using the full 190 kilometres to pay the R71.00 and this has been going on for the past ten years.
We are calling on all taxi and truck drivers to come in numbers; this time we will block the traffic in totality for five hours. Please, if you are not supporting our call, do not use the N4 road on that date.
Spatial development framework for city of Cape Town
Tony Ehrenreich, COSATU W Cape Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2012
The recent announcement by the City of Cape Town that they will be accommodating the building of low cost houses in the wealthy areas like Constantia is to be welcomed. This confirms the ANC’s call during the elections for the establishment of integrated non racial communities in the City.
This is a radical deviation from the DA election promises to the wealthy in Constantia, which they would keep the poor out of Constantia and no doubt they will see protest by Constantia’s wealthy.
The DA programme of maintaining and focussing on the preservation of the generational advantages of apartheid for the white communities are unsustainable. As the ANC we will use the influence and authority of National Government to ensure that the DA puts in place policies that are in keeping with the Constitutional obligations of all levels of Government.
We will continue to force the DA to implement ANC policies like the special focus on backyard dwellers, in the city of Cape Town.
Give freedom of Cape Town to the poor, mostly black, people of SA instead of to weak-willed Barack Obama
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 23 May 2012
NEHAWU has noted with concern the announcement by the Mayor of Cape Town, Ms. Patricia De Lille, that the city of Cape Town will be giving Michelle and Barack Obama the freedom of the City of Cape Town. We are totally opposed to this because the majority of the poor people of Cape Town are still treated like outsiders in their own city and nothing has been done by Ms de Lille to narrow the huge inequality gap that exist between the rich and the poor.
It is not surprising for the hypocritical and opportunistic DA led municipality to try and ingratiate themselves with the spineless Barack Obama and his wife because it is in keeping with their elitist tendencies. They want to award the freedom of the city to a celebrity politician and his wife while at the same time their leader Helen Zille is lamenting about poor South Africans flooding the city of Cape Town. Grandiose and superficial gestures to the leaders of the Western world cannot mask the failure of the Cape Town municipality to deliver services to its most vulnerable citizens.
Why Barack Obama does not deserve the Freedom of Cape Town?
(a) The people of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan have been massacred and maimed by the American led NATO armies. Under Barack Obama the Americans have used an aggressive rhetoric and intimidation tactics against Iran and have coerced independent nations to impose sanctions against it.
(b) He has continued the senseless sanctions against the revolutionary people of Cuba who sacrificed everything to assist South Africans in their fight against apartheid.
(c) Barack Obama has continued to oversee a policy of supporting the apartheid Israeli state and its continued military policy that uses violence to suppress the people of Palestine. The people of the Gaza strip remain under a merciless blockade by the Israeli army and they are still victims of widespread land and property dispossessions.
(d) The Barack Obama led American administration has been taking sides in favour of the Israelis in order to pacify its leadership and lobbyists. When the United Nations cultural and education agency UNESCO admitted the Palestinian state as its member, the morally bankrupt and unprincipled American government threatened to withdraw their funding of UNESCO because of their principled stance.
(e) Barack Obama does not deserve to be granted the freedom of the city ,the same way he does not deserve the Nobel Peace prize he was awarded a couple of years ago. He has the blood of innocent people in his hands.
Why Poor African People Deserve the Freedom of the City of Cape Town?
a) They are the aboriginal people of this country and continent and unlike under the evil apartheid regime they have a right to stay anywhere in South Africa.
b) The Freedom Charter is very clear that this country belongs to all those who live in it as celebrated in our Constitution.
We want to remind Ms Patricia De Lille that the City of Cape Town is not an independent state within South African borders and they must remember the history and realities of our society before dishing out awards. If they want an autograph from Barack Obama they can do so without dragging all of us along and our city along.
COSATU NW disappointed at outcome of Eugene Terreblanche murder case
Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2012
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West is disappointed at the verdict handed down in the Ventersdorp court today, 22 May 2012, that the accused are guilty of murder and house-breaking, without looking at all the circumstances the accused found themselves in, the contradictory statement by the police and the so-called ‘most experienced investigator’ who could not respond to many questions during the cross examination.
As COSATU we always said that the justice system of our country still favours the rich and the whites, that the poor are still oppressed and that the judiciary is failing to protect them.
The Judge chose to ignore the facts that there is a possibility of sodomy and wants to blame it on the accused, but he fails to put the same blame on the investigating officers for failing to collect such important evidence.
He also failed to consider the fact that the accused were defending themselves from a fight that arose out of a pay dispute and also that Terreblanche employed a minor to work in his farm and exploited them both.
In our view the judge expected the accused to defend themselves, while they did not investigate the case and the judge continued to defend Terreblanche and ignored the fact that the accused were provoked and acted in self-defence.
In our view this is a case of self-defence or culpable homicide and not murder.
As COSATU we want to ask whether the judge could have made the same ruling if it was a black farm worker killed by a white farmer, of which we have many such cases in the NW. If a black farm worker killed a white racist farmer, the ruling will be ‘not enough evidence’. This is how farm workers are killed; this how racism is defended by justice.
The same ET killed so many workers and others are currently disabled, yet there is no action because he produced a bank statement.
As the federation in NW we are looking at the sentence and we will have to defend the farm workers; even if it means we must die we will do so.
COSATU, Kopano Ke Matla and e-tolls – a correction
Patrick Craven, COSATU National Spokesperson, 23 May 2012
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is obliged to correct a statement in the article in The Times of 23 May 2012 – “Zuma says it's OK for parties to invest” - by Caiphus Kgosana.
He claims that “Cosatu was embarrassed when it was revealed that its investment arm Kopano Ke Matla had a stake in a firm that is benefiting from the controversial e-tolling of Gauteng freeways”.
As COSATU has repeatedly pointed out, Raubex, the firm in which Kopano Ke Matla has a 3% stake, was involved in the construction of roads that were later e-tolled, and not at all in the implementation of e-tolls themselves.
COSATU NW Provincial Executive Committee Decisions
Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2012
The COSATU North West Provincial Executive Committee met on 17 May 2012. It received a report on the following issues from the last PEC in February and discussed and resolved as follows:
ORGANISATIONAL
The PEC agreed that all the affiliates in the province are faced with the following critical challenges as they prepare towards provincial congress:
Ø Poor membership service
Ø NUM losing members in Rustenburg region and many other unions.
Ø Political interference and manipulation of affiliates by politicians
Ø Deregistering of unions by Department of Labour.
Ø Union-bashing by some employers, e.g. Sun City managers who own labour brokers, kwaMaritane, Bakubung lodges, farmers and big mines in Rustenburg, working together with the AMCO association at Impala to destroy NUM and allowing workers to be involved in an illegal strike and be forced to resign from the union in the presence of the management.
The PEC resolved that all affiliates must report and update the federation on their critical challenges and on which the federation must intervene as matter of urgency in assisting weak unions.
The PEC resolved that affiliates must update their members on a weekly basis, so that the federation can have a sense of what is happening in all its affiliates’ membership.
COSATU POBs must meet with NUM in particular to discuss the matter of Rustenburg, in particular the situation in the Impala mine.
The federation must jointly with NUM convene a workers’ rally outside Impala after full investigation into the cause of what is currently taking place at Impala mine. It is no longer an issue of money; it is now a fight between workers and their union.
The PEC noted very seriously that workers are killed and union leaders threatened, right in the front of management and police.
COSATU must call an urgent meeting with the MEC of Safety and provincial commissioner of the police to discuss the safety of the members and leaders
The PEC condemned the video footage that was played in the news in April 2012 and resolved that SABC television must declare who did so, so that the Human Rights Commission can follow up the criminals and that management of Impala must be held accountable of all the wrong and criminal things which happened in their presence without doing anything.
As we are facing towards the provincial congress, the PEC resolved that we must discuss the strategy to rebuild weak unions.
CHUBBY CHICK
The PEC resolved that the Potchefstroom local must develop a campaign program to boycott Chubby Chick products and COSATU must work jointly with FAWU to unfold the programme while the case is still in the labour court. There must be action against Chubby Chick every two weeks until 850 workers are reinstated.
The minister of labour must be approached on the conduct of labour inspectors, including their provincial office, on the matter of Chubby Chick. Workers were injured during working hours no action from the Department of Labour inspectors, workers are disabled due to none compliance of Chubby Chick.
The PEC resolved that as part of mobilization against labour brokers, e. tolling, the Swartruggens toll gate, we must include all this exploiters such as chubby chick, Aurora, Sun City, Kwa Maritane, farmers and Impala mines in all our actions.
STATE OF THE LOCALS
The PEC received an update on the launching and re-launching of new locals and resolved that by the end of May 2012 all outstanding locals must be launched as per the constitution of the federation.
All affiliates shop stewards must be active in their locals.
The federation must, immediately after completing the launching of new locals and re-launching outstanding locals, conduct an induction workshop for four days which must include the role of local leadership and the affiliates at the local level. The province is now standing at 27 locals that must implement all COSATU discussions.
GENDER
The PEC noted very seriously the weakness of the gender structure in the province and agreed that this is due to the poor support and lack of commitment from some affiliates. The PEC resolved that the gender structure will go to its provincial conference to elect a new leadership for the next term. It will be held in August 2012, as we will be going to the national congress in September 2012.
MAY DAY CELEBRATION
The PEC received assessment reports from both the national and provincial campaigns committees and agreed that:
Ø May-day was a success.
Ø Affiliates did not mobilise workers for May-day properly.
Ø Some affiliates did not arrange transport for their members.
Ø The PEC members did not do their work, in particular those who were expected to lead the task team.
Ø The PEC noted that, POPCRU, SAMWU, SATAWU, NUM, SADTU, NEHAWU, SACCAWU and DENOSA respected the call from the federation.
Ø The PEC congratulated the locals of COSATU in particular Moses Kotane for their mobilisation towards May-day and national strike held on 7 March 2012.
Ø The PEC resolved that the FINCOM must present a model of mass catering during the national activities and the provincial shop stewards council.
NATIONAL STRIKE 7 MARCH 2012
The PEC received the national and provincial assessment reports, with the provincial programme to continue to put pressure to our government to ban labour brokers and the capitalist programme of the e-tolling system in Gauteng which may go to other provinces in the country in future.
The PEC resolved that the provincial programme must be led by the PEC and the locals and include the following:
Ø Sit-ins at the municipalities, Department of Labour, all department offices, provincial legislature, employers’ business and farmers in particular those that practice racism.
Ø To convene Provincial marches to expose the following:
· Fight against the Swartruggens tollgate.
· Fight against corruption in all departments and municipalities.
· Fight against exploitation and racial killing, child labour and racism at the following: farms, Sun City, Shoprite, Game, and all the lodges in the province.
· Support communities’ campaigns for service delivery.
· Fight against Chubby Chick to reinstate 850 workers who were unfairly dismissed in 2011.
· Fight against union bashing, in particular at Rustenburg Impala mine.
The PEC also resolved that the federation must lead all the campaigns of mass dismissal and fight for reinstatement of those workers.
The case of Aurora still remains painful. After three years now the Department of Labour and liquidators are not doing anything.
The case of OMV owing workers an amount of R 296 000 + 15% since 2008 and a writ of execution. Till now the Department of Labour is delaying the process by supporting the employer not to pay workers.
GIFT OF THE GIVERS
The PEC resolved to hold a meeting with the Gift of the Givers on the role of the federation in poor communities and the workers, in particular Aurora workers.
The PEC appreciated the intervention of the Gift of the Givers at Aurora workers and the case at Itsoseng communities where four children died due to poverty.
The PEC resolved to support the organisation and that there must be a full joint programme between COSATU and the Gift of the Givers so that it can be able to sustain itself.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN ABUSE
The PEC received the summary report on the current challenge facing poor women and children.
It has been investigated and reported in public in the media, with evidence from the victims, that the raping and killing of poor women and children and the abuse of poor is worse than before 1994.
The PEC condemned seriously the allegation that some members or workers are involved in raping patients during their consultations at the hospital e.g. the case of Brits hospital and Potchefstroom, which the PEC seriously condemned.
The PEC was reminded about our revolutionary commitment to the public and society of our country, is to protect society against criminals, in particular those who take advantage of the poor families.
The PEC resolved to lead the provincial action in the form of a provincial march to the provincial SAPS office to hand over the memorandum to the premier, MEC of Safety and Security, MEC of Social Development, Women, Children And Person with Disabilities, Director of Public Prosecution, Provincial SAPS Commissioner and Department of Labour. The provincial march will be held on 15 June 2012.
NEW OFFICE (COSATU NORTH WEST)
The PEC resolved to respect the 2006 provincial congress which was held in Rustenburg that the provincial office must be renamed after our first president, the late Elijah Barayi.
It therefore resolved that our office will be named as COSATU North West Province; Elijah Barayi House, 75 Commissioner Street at Matlosana.
The office will be officially renamed in June 2012 during the special PEC by an NOB.
POLITICAL
The PEC noted the updated political report with the worse political situation in the province, in particular on the following critical issues:
· Non-functioning of the alliance.
· No alliance programme.
· The continuation of the disrespecting of the alliance by the ANC.
· That the ANC only convened the deployment sub-committee to push their agenda of deploying some of their officials in the legislature and pushing some of the corrupt officials to lead the municipalities.
· The fighting between ANC members is serious concern; every week there is a fight in the meeting of ANC.
· The current increase in the fight for service delivery in almost all the rural communities is a call for concern for COSATU and its members, as its affects workers not being able to go work during those public fights for service delivery or during service delivery protests.
The PEC resolved to engage the ANC and the alliance with government to find a solution to this matter, which is a crisis that may lead us to fight each other as it now standing, blacks against blacks.
The PEC insisted strongly that communities must not damage properties during the public fights on service delivery communities but must respect our properties.
The PEC called for communities to approach COSATU at the level of the locals, to request that we work together for a proper fight, not in public violence which ends up leaving many deaths in society, as in the Impala situation.
The PEC supports communities’ demands and requests that COSATU, SANCO and the SACP must lead the campaign for service delivery to poor communities who voted for the movement in the 2011 local government elections.
The PEC called on the NEC to release the report of the task team led by the minister of Home Affairs that was put in place after the 2011 local government elections.
The PEC resolved to convene an urgent political commission of COSATU to discuss the views of the members on the current reshuffling that took place in May 2012 without consultation with the alliance.
CORRUPTION
The PEC received update on corruption activities that are continuing in the following departments: Education, Local Government, Health, Public Works, Sports, Arts and Culture and the worse situation in the municipalities of the province.
We are still waiting for the report from the premier on the SIU and the report from the Deputy Minister of Local Government on the commitment they made publicly on 13 October 2011 to hand over the report to COSATU. It is now 7 months since the commitment.
The PEC resolved that the matter be referred to the provincial congress in July 2012 with the recommendation of taking the matter to court for government to release the two reports publicly.
MUNICIPAITIES/SAMWU
The PEC resolved that SAMWU must draw a programme of action to fight against corruption and to defend its members against criminals and those who are the enemy of the working class in the municipalities, e.g. the cases in Madibeng, Moses Kotane and many other municipalities that are faced with those critical challenges.
The PEC is on record that some criminals are using our members to fight the unions, to fight affiliates and the federation and its leaders.
The PEC condemned, and demanded that all affiliates must take action against, those individuals who are in the pockets of some politicians to destroy unions and the federation.
COSATU will also take serious steps against any union or member who uses members to pursue his or her own political agenda.
COSATU is the federation of affiliates that must defend the workers politically, socially and organisationally; we do not need permission of anybody.
The PEC has taken no decisions to recall the Premier of the province, as some has been doing, or trying to lobby COSATU for that action. When the time comes, or the PEC takes that decision, it will consult its members and we will lead that campaign.
COSATU decisions are from the PEC, which is the constitutional structure that must take decisions before its congress which is due in July 2012.
DA MARCH TO COSATU HOUSE
The PEC discussed the racist decision that was taken by DA leaders to march to COSATU house for the youth wage subsidy.
The PEC condemned that racist decision. It must be for the first and for the last time that the DA takes such decisions. COSATU is not government; the youth subsidy is not with COSATU but with the government.
COSATU resolved to fight against the labour brokers and it took its fight to government, not to the DA. We know that the majority of labour brokers are led by DA members who are supporting government to regulate labour brokers.
The PEC calls on the DA to publicly apologise and accept that they took a wrong decision to march against COSATU, and in future they must take their protest marches to government not to workers.
The PEC is reminding DA that their opportunist, populist party led the SA government for years and our youth under the DA, when it was still under the National Party, were trapped in a racist crisis led by the DA.
The PEC also demanded that Helen Zille, a populist woman, must apologise and withdraw her continued personalised attacks on the general secretary of COSATU, comrade Zwelinzima Vavi; he is elected by workers not by the DA.
The DA must be worried about racial killings, racist attitudes, child labour that are taking place in the farms. The DA must be worried about job losses that are taking place in the province led by some of their members. The DA must be worried about labour brokers exploiting workers at Sun City on a daily basis.
The PEC is disappointed that some populist African blacks joined the DA just for the position after realising that they can’t lead our movement.
We are warning the DA that next time they will get what they want from the people of this province who are worried about the attacks on the poor workers and the working class.
SOCIO ECONOMIC
The PEC received the anti-corruption forum report and resolved that it must be linked to the COSATU Corruption Watch, with full information for investigating some of corrupt activities that are taking place in our province. Action must be taken against those corrupt activities that are taking place in the province.
They adopted the comrades representing COSATU in the forum and said that they must give a report, with the evidence, for the PEC to link it up with the Corruption Watch.
The PEC noted the high increase of unemployment which is taking place in the province sector by sector, district by district.
The challenge of service delivery in all rural communities is a sign of poverty which is created by unemployment in all areas in our province.
The PGDS is still in the hands of a few opportunistic capitalists who do not care about the province.
The PGDS working groups have collapsed and no action has been taking by government. We call the premier to take action on the matter, as we are facing the collapse of economy in this province.
The 7 March 2012 action led by COSATU was a sign of working class being worried about our economy that is representing those who are in political power with all resources who are undermining our 18-years democracy.
The PEC calls the Premier of this province to intervene on the review of the PGDS, and to rebuild its working groups to be in line with our submission to the Planning Commission as per our growth path.
We call on the premier to investigate all the boards with a view to re-establishing one entity responsible for the economy of this province.
The PEC reaffirmed its position that the enemy of our economy in this province is, racism, crime and corruption.
International
SACP welcomes dti announcement on labelling of goods from Israel
Malesela Maleka, SACP Spokesperson, 22 May 2012
The SACP welcomes and support the announcement by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Cde Rob Davies on the labelling of goods that come from Israel and specifically those originating from the Palestinian territories. This will also allow South African consumers to make a choice on whether they want to buy goods produced from the blood of the Palestinian people.
The initiative by the South African government assist us to correctly understand the extent of trade between South Africa and Israel, and specifically goods produced under slave-like conditions in oppressed Palestine. This will also help to bring to the fore the inhumane and illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and its continued encroaching of Palestinian land. As the SACP we are for the boycott, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights.
Palestinian workers rights under the current dispensation are violated and the inhumane illegal occupation is an indictment of everything a free and democratic world stand for.
In the period of the observance of the nakba we call for the strict adherence of the United Nations decisions around the 1967 borders and for the destruction of the apartheid wall. The SACP working with progressive forces will continue mobilising for solidarity action in order to free Palestine and her people.
Letters
Labour broker workers have no rights
My name is Sebata Machinini, residing in Tembisa. I am writing this letter concerning labour brokers. I am working under a labour broker and it has been six years.
The reason for this letter is to let you know of the working conditions we are facing. Honestly, as workers under a labour broker, we don’t have any rights to anything in our working environment, i.e. we are forced to work overtime, we are always threatened that if we don’t want to work overtime, we will be replaced immediately.
Everyday workers are fired for no specific reason without warning and they are replaced at the same time. It is very difficult to attend emergency family matters because if you ask to take a leave, because of the possibility of your position at work being replaced without you being informed.
We are not allowed to arrange meeting as workers. Even if we do, those meetings are at our lunch time. As workers we have different positions, however, we are called ‘general workers’. How fair is it for us to rate the same salary, which is R12 per hour? I believe that labour brokering is exactly like slavery, where you don’t have any rights, whereas we are in a democratic country.
When we report problems that we are facing at work to our superiors or the labour brokers’ office, we are told that the client is always right and we are just general workers. When we hear COSATU talking about how bad labour brokering is and how it is affecting people, we believed these matters would be resolved sooner, because COSATU was busy talking about banning of the Labour Broker since 2007. All their talk was in vain. Every year on the 1st of May since 2007 COSATU was talking about banning of Labour Broker, however, nothing had happened.
Now we even know the agenda of the 1st of May which is the ‘Banning of the Labour Brokers’, since you as COSATU is saying “Ban the Labour Brokers” and the government is saying “Regulate the Labour Brokers” and the people are suffering.
v Why don’t COSATU and the government just agree on one thing that will help the workers?
v Is that difficult for you to ban Labour Brokers?
v On the 1st of May (Workers’ Day) the president of COSATU talked about them supporting the leadership of ANC, which was elected in 2007 Polokwane. Is it that important to you as COSATU to talk about that, rather than to deal with the issues of the workers? Is the leadership of ANC that important rather than the issues the workers are facing?
v Where would the problem be to ban or regulate Labour Brokers?
On behalf of the poor people who are working under slavery conditions, our hope is in your hands COSATU, whether you give us freedom or we will be slaveries forever. Thank you in advance and hope you find this letter in order.
Fake article
Marius Roodt, 23 May 2012
In the media monitor from 18 May 2012, you included an article purportedly written by David Hill for The Times of London on the ineptocracy.
This is a fake article. It took me less than two minutes on google to determine the article was fake. Best regards.
Announcements
Shoulder to shoulder: South African workers and WFTU
George Mavrikos, WFTU General Secretary, 20 May 2012
A book on Moses Mabhida, Mark Shope, Eric Mtshali and so many other heroes of the South African Trade Union movement, their internationalist contribution and the great support they received in the liberation struggle from WFTU and the class-oriented unions around the world...
The prologue of the book says:
Dear comrades,
It is a joy, an honor and, at the same time, a duty of the World Federation of Trade Unions to express its respect towards the heroic struggles of the working class and the People of South Africa who conducted hard class struggles for their political liberation, for the abolition of apartheid.
In this heroic struggle the WFTU from 1945 until today has been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder together with the pioneer militants of South Africa. The history of the trade union movement in South Africa from 1945 until today is simultaneously the history of the WFTU. The comrades who were martyrs in that struggle are also martyrs of the international class-oriented trade union movement of the International Working Class, are also martyrs of WFTU.
This book is the least we could do to honor the thousands who died in the struggle, for those who gave their life against the capitalist exploitation and the imperialist barbarity.
Dear brothers in South Africa.
No struggle goes to waste. The long years of struggle brought the results of the great changes in 1994. Great changes that need to be completed with radical overthrows in the level of economy, since we all know that this is the heart of the policy. We continue...
We continue the struggle for a society without injustice and class exploitation. For a society where the wealth-producing resources will belong to the Peoples and not to the capitalists and the multinationals. For a society in which the means of production will belong to the working people and not the bourgeoisie. For a socialist society...
This value of this book is to be estimated by whether the youth, the next generation of militants of the trade union movement, will derive lessons and experience from it, to continue the struggle with more faith and more boldness.
See this publication online at:
http://www.scribd.com/wftu-press/d/94314241-South-African-Worker-and-WFTU-Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Patrick Craven (National Spokesperson)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street
Braamfontein
2017
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg
2000
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or 010 219-1339
Mobile: +27 82 821 7456
E-Mail: pat...@cosatu.org.za
