COSATU Today, 11 August 2010

NUMSA members in the automobile industry have down tools today, Wednesday 11 August 2010, as a result of the stubbornness and big-headed arrogance by the Automobile Employers Organization (AMEO) to meet their wage demands as per collective bargaining agreement.

The strike action will affect the production of vehicles and see close to 31 000 workers working for Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, Bavarian Motor Works (BMW), Nissan, General Motors, and Daimler downing tools. The automotive industry in general is the leading manufacturing sector in the economy of our country with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution.

We are consciously aware that this industry is the strategic pillar of our economy. It’s economic and employment contribution goes far beyond just new automotive vehicle production – small, medium, heavy and extra-heavy commercial vehicles, and passenger vehicles. Thus we will never compromise our rights to bargain, including a right to strike at the altar of national interest or appeasing the powers that be!

The multiplier effects of the automotive manufacturing industry include vehicle and related parts retail, finance and insurance, service and repair workshops, fuel and oil retail, paint, components, tyres, glass, leather, textile, rubber, plastic and steel production, and transport generally.

The strike action is part of the tactical manoeuvre by the 31 000 strong workforce to exert pressure to the AMEO to accede to their demands. It is further consistent with the electoral commitment of the ANC-led alliance and the new President Jacob Zuma-led administration of decent work and sustainable livelihoods.

THESE ARE THE DEMANDS:

· One year-agreement.

·
Across the Board (ATB) wage increase of 15%.

·
Short time/lay-off payment at 100%.

·
Short Term Contracts (STCs) must be entitled to all benefits and employed on a permanent basis after three (3) months.

·
Labour brokers to be scrapped.

·
Hours of work must be 8 hours per day from Monday to Friday.

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Saturdays work to be paid 1½, and Sundays and Public Holidays work to be paid double respectively.

·
CO2 Welders and Spray Painters to be populated in Skills Level 5.

·
Six months paid maternity leave.

·
Scrapping of No further Claims Clause from the Automobile Industry National Bargaining Forum (NBF) collective agreement.

The strike action will mainly unfold at a PLANT levels in three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces.

The details are as follows:

PLANT PROVINCE CONTACT
TOYOTA, Prospecton, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Mbuso Ngubane, Regional Secretary, 082 453 2858 / 079 502 3242

DAILMER, East London, VW, Uitenhage, FORD, Port Elizabeth GM, Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape Cde Vuyo Bikitsha, Regional Secretary, 083 253 8647

NISSAN, Rosslyn, BMW, Rosslyn, FORD, Silverton (All in Tshwane)Gauteng Mentjie Motsepe, Regional Secretary, 082 389 4050

The above details are not picnic spots or fan parks, but are strike actions spots by militant metalworkers. These strike actions will culminate into full-blown marches across the three regions as the week proceeds.

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1.2 NUMSA General Secretary to Address Workers in Port Elizabeth

NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim, will be addressing COSATU Affiliated unions members, including the striking automobile workers organized under NUMSA in Port Elizabeth in the today.

The COSATU Affiliated union members, including automobile striking workers will converge at CENTENTARY HALL at 17H00, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

The details are as follows:
DATE: 11 August 2010
TIME: 17H00pm
VENUE: Centenary Hall, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

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1.3 No work No Pay rule won’t deter workers

Norman Mampane, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 August 2010

POPCRU has noted the disingenuous attitude by the Employer to threaten workers with no work, no pay rule in a genuine fight against slave wage offer. We are content that the offer as tabled is an insult to the millions of workers of this country, who continued to walk an extra mile to offer quality public services for all.

We have witnessed a “guerrilla type” response by the employer to send a fleet of cars to all work places and demand lists of all who went for marches. Such empty threats will actually make our workers to be angry than the 2007 National Public Service Strike, in which it was registered as the largest and the longest over strike to be held in the history of COSATU.

Whilst, we agree that the government have achieved much in enhancing the quality of lives of our people since the 1994 Democratic Dispensation, same cannot be said on the rising cost of living that continues to be a burden for the working class in general and workers in particular.

Belt tightening has always been pointed towards the poor and workers in particular yet captains of capitalists and government technocrats continue to live large with exorbitant allowances .Our Labour Power is a commodity that we cannot afford to sell and/or exchange cheaply.

Our membership continues to face the hardships of fathering and mothering more than seven dependents per household on average on a salary of one worker.

Petrol, Electricity, food and other commodities have been rising with zero consideration to essential services prices because such is not accommodated in a capitalistic system highly infected by greed and profits.

We reiterate that our general membership will never be de-moralized and de-mobilized by the so-called essential services. Essential services must be consumerate With “ Essential Services Salary”, if there is something of that nature in the vocabulary of the employer.

Our class-consciousness will never be derailed by the so-called essential services.

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1.4 Workers protest for living wage in Polokwane

Norman Mampane, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 10 August 2010

Workers, organised under COSATU Affiliated Trade Unions and Independent Labour Caucus embarked on a nation-wide marches demanding a living wage.

More than 10 000 workers and progressive organizations supported a call that “7% offer is an insult to workers.

The march proceeded from SABC Park to the Limpopo Premier’s Offices, in which a memorandum was read by NEHAWU Provincial Chairperson

Mike Shingange. He reiterated a total rejection of the following

· 7% Salary Increase with effect from 01 July 2020

· A Housing Allowance of R630.00

· An Implementation date of the 01st July 2010

· A Signing of a Multi-Term Agreement, and

· Subjection of Medical Aid Subsidy to a Task Team

Our Demands to the Employer remain as follows;

· 8,6% Wage Increase,

· R1 000 Housing Allowance,

· Wage Increase to be implemented on the 01st April 2010,

· A Single-Term Agreement,

· Non-Discriminatory Medical Aid to all Workers, and

· A resolution of the Minimum Services Level Agreement

The memorandum was withheld after the Premier’s Office sent the Member of the Executive Council MEC of Local Government and Housing, Mr. Soviet Lekganyane

to receive the memo, and workers refused that it should be handed to him. And workers demanded that the Premier of the Province, Mr Cassel Mathale should come

to receive it.

Thereafter, workers returned back to the Park to debrief and further update on what form of action to take. Workers have undertaken a commitment to revitalize their actions to ensure that the unity of the public service Trade Unions must not be compromised.

Message of support were received from COSAS, SASCO, SANCO and SACP.

The march dispersed peacefully at around 13H15.

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1.5 DENOSA NW calls for MEC dismissal

Oscar Phaka, North West DENOSA Provincial Secretary, 10 August 2010

The Provincial Executive Committee of Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa in the North-West Province in its sitting at Getaway Guest Lodge on the 05th and 06th August 2010, has observed with disgust the attitude of the Department of Health and Social Development in dealing with the issue of the Mmabatho College of Nursing.

The decision of the department to close the college is viewed by the PEC as an insult to nursing profession, the community, and the nurses of the province.

It is an open secret that our health system is in trouble because of the shortage of nursing professionals, and it is therefore very irresponsible and shortsighted on the part of the MEC to put the production of nurses on hold.

It was also noted that not only does the MEC undermine the organisation but also COSATU because on the 23rd of June 2010, a meeting organized by our federation with the MEC, Departmental Officials led by the Acting Deputy-Director General, Vuyo Mbulawa, the MEC promised COSATU, Denosa and Student representative that she will respond in two-days after consultation with the Minister.

The MEC has since avoided us and on the 16th day, she decided to close down the Nursing College. This indicates that not only is the MEC arrogant but also a liar and cannot be trusted in leading a crucial service as the department of Health and Social Development. The PEC therefore questions the credential and capacity of the MEC and her officials to lead the essential services such as health as their actions do not have the interest of the community and service delivery at heart.

The PEC also noted with disgust the threat to the Student Nurses of Mmacon by the departmental officials in their meeting with the student representatives on the 3rd August 2010, were the department want the students to sign new contracts before the college can reopen.

The Provincial Executive Committee therefore resolved as follows;

1.The Premier of the North-West, Maureen Modiselle must with immediate effect reopen Mmabatho College of Nursing without conditions;
2. The PTT and the Premier are advised to remove Rebecca Kasienyane as MEC of Health and Social Development as she is a danger to the health system and health of our community in the province.
3. Calling for the removal of the Head of Department; Dr. Lydia Sebego and Acting DDG: Corporate; Vuyo Mbulawa. They are solely responsible for the challenges at the nursing college and health system in the province in general.
4. The department must finalize the payment of OSD and PMDS.

The organisation is therefore advising the Premier and PTT to implement the above with the urgency it deserves. Failure to comply with the above resolutions will be viewed by DENOSA as a declaration of war against the Nursing Profession, Health System and Nurses in the province.

We will not be intimidated, we will not be silenced by threats of expulsion, and we will collapse the health services in the province if our demands are not met. Government should remember that Nurses are the NERVE-CENTRE OF HEALTH SERVICES.

2. South Africa

2.1 Mafikeng Mail misleads public

Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 10 August 2010

COSATU and its affiliates are disappointed by the statement of the Mafikeng Mail of 6^th August 2010 that COSATU allegations about the Moses Kotane clinic are “irresponsible”.

As COSATU we take serious exception to this statement and call on the Mafikeng Mail to consult with our structures before it makes allegations against COSATU for being irresponsible. COSATU visited the clinic during Mandela day. It is dilapidated, with no water, no security, no beds and poor medical facilities for the poor communities around Manamakgoteng in the Moses Kotane Municipality.

COSATU requested the MEC for Social Development and Health to visit the clinic facility with COSATU on 26 July 201, but the MEC, her officials and the Mafikeng Mail refused.The Mafikeng Mail must first visit the clinic before it can respond on behalf of the MEC who does not care about the life of our poor people who voted for her to become the MEC on behalf of our ANC movement.

We ask the Mafikeng Mail to speak to the people who lost their families due to poor conditions of service in the area of Moses Kotane Heath Department.

The MEC that the Mafikeng Mail is representing refused to visit a family that lost a boy in 2009 in George Stegman hospital due to poor conditions. The same MEC you are representing refused to visit a family that lost twins in Ganyesa hospital due to negligence of a doctor in 2009. The same MEC took an antirevolutionary decision to close Mmabatho College of Nursing to satisfy a faction within her department.

Bojanala district is in crisis with health issues, due to lack of political leader who will put the ANC manifesto first, but does the opposite by putting her faction first.

Communities are losing their families due to poor health facilities, in particular in the Bojanala district and Bophirima (Ruth Mompati).

COSATU members were hijacked in the same clinic in 2007 and the case was reported to the police. One of our members lost her car, and till today no one knows what has happened to the case and we are told that this recent case is an unfortunate incident. Is that what the Mafikeng Mail is defending? Is that what you call irresponsible allegations?

At George Stegman hospital a poor woman lost a 35-year-old boy who went missing in August 2009 and was found dead right in the same hospital in October 2009. The same MEC and her officials are using the taxpayer money to defend themselves in the Mogwase magistrates court. I am sure the Mafikeng Mail is benefiting from this poor health conditions of our people.

We are asking the mail to retract the statement of the MEC against COSATU and apologies to the members of COSATU in the North West

Our members must refuse to work in any unsafe place if government is not prepared to employ 24-hour security at the clinics and all our members will only work day shift. The safety of our members is very important to us as COSATU. The lives of poor communities who are being neglected by the MEC of health are also very important to the federation.

We are requesting government, in particular the MEC of Health, to pay all the funeral costs of all the families who have lost their members since May 2009 due to poor health conditions, in particular the cases at the George Stegman and Ganyesa hospitals

We demand that the MEC must open the Mmabatho Nursing College today not tomorrow. The MEC of Health, together with her officials, is undermining the high court ruling.

We are asking the ANC government to replace this do-not-care MEC who was given this post by a faction by mistake.

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2.2 SAFPU wishes Bafana Bafana good luck against Ghana

Elvis Sekgobela SAFPU Spokesperson, 10 August 2010

SAFPU has wished Bafana Bafana good luck for their game against Black Stars of Ghana at Soccer City tomorrow night.

We all know it is not going to be an easy game for us against Ghana as they want to consolidate their position as the best team in Africa.

Notwithstanding the fact that Ghana has the best players who are playing in the big leagues in Europe, we strongly believe that Bafana Bafana will rise to the occasion as they did against France and Mexico during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Moreover, with the same attitude that we displayed in the past games we believe that our team will reclaim their position as the best team in Africa and improve our FIFA Ranking position.

The union wants to appeal to our football-loving nation to rally behind our new National Coach Pitso Mosimane and our players.

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2.3 Aveng settles mining roof bolts cartel with a R21 million fine

Oupa Bodibe, Competition Commission Manager for Advocacy & Stakeholder Relations, 10 August 2010

The Competition Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with Aveng (Africa) Ltd, trading as Duraset (“Duraset”) in which it admits that it took part in the mining roof bolts cartel.

Duraset has agreed to pay a penalty of R21 900 000 representing 5% of its 2008 annual turnover. The agreement follows the Commission’s referral of its cartel activity findings against Duraset, RSC Ekusasa Mining (Pty) Ltd (RSC), Dywidag-Systems International (Pty) Ltd (“DSI”) and Videx Wire Products (Pty) Ltd (“Videx”) to the Tribunal for adjudication on 30 September 2009, in which it asked the Tribunal to levy an administrative penalty of 10% on the annual turnover of three of the firms. The referral excluded RSC, a subsidiary of Murray & Roberts Steel, which was granted conditional immunity following its leniency application.

In terms of the settlement, Duraset admits that it was involved in collusive tendering and entered into agreements, arrangements and understandings with RSC, DSI and Videx to divide the markets. It has further agreed to refrain from engaging in this conduct and to continue with the implementation of a compliance programme that was developed and implemented following a consent agreement that Aveng entered into with the Commission in relation to its other subsidiary Infraset, which was involved in collusion in the concrete pipes, culverts and manholes market to prevent further contraventions of the Competition Act.

The Commission has filed an application for the confirmation of this settlement agreement with the Tribunal. This case was initiated following information received from RSC in a leniency application on 26 September 2008. RSC was the first among the cartel members to come forward and admit it had colluded with its competitors. Subsequently, Duraset attempted to apply for leniency, but this was rejected since conditional leniency had already been granted to RSC in respect of the conduct.

The Commission’s investigation revealed that the cartel may have started during the 1990’s and was resuscitated around 2002 when DSI entered the market with prices considered by its competitors as “exceptionally low and unsustainable”. This resulted in a price war, after which the respondents arranged to meet and discuss ways to coordinate their conduct in the supply of mining roof bolts. Over an extended period of time the respondents agreed not to sell to “each other’s customers” and under the guise of an industry association, each member was allocated 25% of market share. These cartel members had agreements to allocate customers and products and also to collude on tenders until 2008.

Mining roof bolts are used to provide roof and wall support in underground mines to prevent cave-ins and to keep a mine accessible over extended periods of time.

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2.4 Civil Society concerned over strangling of media

Sandra Pires, CIVICUS, 11 August 2010

Civil society organisations express deep apprehension at the recent attempts to strangle the media and the freedom of expression in South Africa.

On August 3, Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika was arrested by a large posse of policemen in what appear to be intimidating tactics. He was arrested without a warrant for purportedly being in the possession of a forged letter announcing the resignation of the premier of Mpumalanaga province. He had recently authored a media report on August 1 in which he questioned the police chief’s decision to lease a building to house the top brass of the police at a sum of 500 million rand for ten years.

Relations between the government and independent media groups have been strained of late particularly in respect of the controversial Protection of Information Bill which impedes access to information, and the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal to adjudicate perceived misleading reports by the media.

The Protection of Information Bill creates obstacles for civil society and media groups seeking to expose official malpractices by giving the government extensive powers to prevent the communication of information in the “national interest” on the pain of draconian punishments ranging from a minimum of three years imprisonment, extending up to 25 years. National interest is defined through omnibus provisions, which include broad categories such as “all matters relating to the advancement of public good”, the protection of trade secrets of state organs including “profits, losses or expenditures of any person” and the “pursuit of justice, democracy, economic growth, free trade, a stable monetary system and sound international relations.”

As part the policy to bring about wider “media transformation, ownership and diversity”, influential members of the ruling party are forwarding the idea of a statutory Media Appeals Tribunal to strengthen media accountability. Establishment of such a tribunal constitutes a step towards official media censorship especially as the South African media already have a self regulation body in the form of a Press Ombudsman to oversee complaints of violations of the media code of conduct adopted by the Press Council.

Recent events make us deeply anxious that the gains made during the anti-apartheid struggle which led to the establishment of a non-racial democratic South Africa in 1995 are in danger of being eroded. We call upon the South African Government to respect cherished constitutional values which include freedom of the press and other media by:

(i) cautioning relevant authorities against misuse of the power of arrest against those who exercise democratic dissent;

(ii) withdrawing the Protection of Information Bill in its present form as it is severely obstructive of the people’s right to information; and

(iii) taking adequate measures to ensure that that the right to express freely is protected from encroachments.

3. International

3.1 King Mswati bans City Press

Lucky Lukhele, SSN Spokesperson, 11 August 2010

City Press, the South African newspaper which ran a series of reports on the sex scandal involving the king’s twelfth wife and king Mswati’s minister of Justice and constitutional affairs, has been banned from circulation in Swaziland.

A 31-year-old man from Manzini by the name of Sibusiso Mhlanga, who was later found to be a SWAYOCO member, was also arrested for making photocopies of the story on a copy of City Press believed to have been sourced from South Africa.

This incident occurred on the 1st of August, 2010, which is the date on which City Press first published the story. Mhlanga was found with copies of the story, which he had made from a regular photo copying machine. He was told by police that the newspaper had been banned from the country and therefore he was not allowed to duplicate it. He was also questioned on where he had gotten the newspaper and why he was making copies of the story. When police later went to raid his house, they were incensed to find out that he was a member of the banned Swaziland Youth Movement (SWAYOCO). They further interrogated him with the aim of finding out the whereabouts of exiled PUDEMO members before eventually letting him go after charging him with the only law that they could charge him with, which is the copyright law.

Unconfirmed reports from the Cow Dung Kingdom also allege that Ndumiso Mamba has been rearrested and is being tortured by the Army as purely a punitive measure. While we are in the process of confirming if these reports are true, we urge all comrades to look beyond his past failures and treat him as the ordinary citizen that he is now, who has committed no crime. These are, after all, the same police who murdered Sipho Jele in custody only three months ago.

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3.2 Tinkhundla a morally bankrupt system-SDC

Ntokozo Mbhele, SDC Spokesperson, 11 August 2010

As we pay tribute to all women and their outstanding contribution and role in our lives and society in general, our attention is being drawn to the stark reality of the crisis facing women in Swaziland.

We are being daily reminded of the plight facing women as a result of a political system rooted in the most primitive social relations of patriarchy and neo-slavery. Swaziland is ruled by an institution or royal family that perpetuates its power through patronage, abuse and immorality. To escape poverty desperate measures are imposed upon women, particularly young girls by the royal family in the name of Swazi culture and tradition.

All morality cease once the word “culture” is mentioned and, being the standard-bearers of Swazi culture and identity, the royal family have exclusive monopoly over what is acceptable and what is not, also depending on who does it. Incidents like the recent one involving the royal sexual scandal and, ultimately, the forced resignation of a Minister, who is part of the inner circle only points to the depth of the crisis, rather than anything new or alien to how things are and have been. Ndumiso Mamba is a well known member of the golden Mamba family which has and continue to benefit from their close royal association and their limitless access to the Tibiyo national trust, Swaziland’s powerful, yet closed economic empire.

Dating back to the days of 18^th century monarchs, royal power in Swaziland has always been fully weaved around an immoral web of sexual politics wherein the royal family built and sustained itself through trading women, exchanging them for their own political gains and favours. This is the principal basis upon which the tinkhundla system is founded. It is public information in Swaziland that such things are happening and have always been happening, hence the popular Swazi saying, kubindvwa kubonwa (silence is golden or literally translated, its best to observe silence even when you can see what is happening). Ndumiso did what everyone else within that establishment has always done and is still doing. We also know that even here in South Africa, members of the Swazi royalty do exactly those things in prestigious hotels and other such places as one was seen just last weekend on the same path here in Johannesburg.

SDC believes that the immorality revealed herein is principally about the moral bankruptcy of the system in general. It is not just about an individual, but rooted in the political rot tinkhundla represents. The danger is real that certain quarters continue to divorce the issue from its political base and sensationalise it as entirely about certain personalities above the foundation that gives rise and sustains it. This narrow approach to the reporting of such issues fails to assist the public locate such fundamental issues in their real context and understand that only a profound political situation would defeat such behaviour, which is hidden behind culture.

The problem here is a system that, owing to its moral bankruptcy, produces and reproduces immorality and has corrupted the moral fibre of Swazi society. For a long time certain quarters of the global society, including some media institutions, have deliberately downplayed the political significance of the moral rot that the Swazi royal family suffers from and has implanted in every part of Swazi society. It has created an impression that it is not related to a political crisis or that there is no political crisis, but just unacceptable individualised behaviours, such as the extreme libido of the monarchy and the royal family as a whole. In this case, the solution would be simple, lock Ndumiso behind bars and the problem is solved. What about the abused children who are treated as sex slaves? What about the generalised abuse of society to satisfy limitless sexual appetites of the royal family? What about the deeply corrupted morality spread by the royal family in the name of Swazi culture? What about the monarchy that uses its power to subject women to extreme abuse in the name of culture?

The recent posture of the issue referred to herein confirms the stereotyping and reductionist approach to the reporting of the real depth and place of this type of behaviour in the concrete conditions of Swazi society today. The situation has also not been helped by the kind of approaches that some within the ranks of those critiquing the oppressive system have chosen to engage in the issue. This issue is both personal and political and no amount of short-circuiting must attempt to create confusion in that regard. The monarchy uses its political power and leverage to accumulate all the women, but it also uses that power to sustain the oppressive institution of the monarchy itself, hence the reproduction of feudal relations and patriarchy. The rot is both personal and political, it transcends the imagined or artificial boundaries, because the monarchy is the apex of the system, in person and politically, simultaneously.

Instead of locating its real political meaning and roots, they have chosen to further the stereotyping, in the process pandering to the sensationalist rather than principled basis of the problem. Today it’s Ndumiso, tomorrow it is another Prince and, of course, everyday it’s King Mswati; but the root remains a system rotten to the core and suffering from political and social decay. We must always emphasise and reinforce that firm principle in order to enhance an effective debate and understanding of the rotten character and design of the tinkhundla system that has corrupted every facet of Swazi society and whose manifestation is evident everywhere, resulting from its political architecture and foundations that serve royal extravagance and corrupt accumulation.

To maintain a high moral ground of our noble cause, we must stick to the core principles and avoid being drawn into all sorts of directions by whatever winds are blowing. It serves to protect the basis of tinkhundla super-exploitation to keep the two integrated poles of the same system apart. We must show that the system is the one producing corrupt personalities and perverts and even as they must face the music for their misdeeds, they are still a product of the corrupt system, which is the source of all corruption and patronage.

In this regard, the struggle for women’s emancipation is a struggle against patriarchy, the struggle against patriarchy is a struggle against the tinkhundla political system of royal domination. We must intensify our struggle against women’s oppression as an integral element of the whole struggle for the democratisation of power relations and the defeat of royal-orchestrated policies of oppression and abuse.

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