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COSATU Today
Our side of the story
6 November 2009
Contents
1. Workers.
1.1 COSATU NW back to Ganyesa Regional Court
2. South Africa.
2.1 COSATU deplores misleading article on labour broking
2.2 Business Report article on labour broking puzzles ILO
2.3 COSATU welcomes Airbus decision
2.4 NEHAWU welcomes government decision to cancel the purchase of Airbus A400M
2.5 YCL does not accept Maroga's resignation
2.6 ANC YL rejects attempts to axe Maroga from Eskom
2.7 NUMSA lauds the move to shift SETAs to Higher Education Ministry
2.8 YCL welcomes firm stance on SETAs by Higher Education Minister
2.9 University of Free State's consultation a sham says YCL
2.10 COSATU congratulates Human Settlements minister
2.11 DENOSA applauds launch of centre for chronic diseases
2.12 NEHAWU demands the removal of the Western Cape Speaker of Parliament
2.13 DENOSA calls for action on departments that receive disclaimers in the NC
2.14 Walking Together in Education
1. Workers
1.1 COSATU NW back to Ganyesa Regional Court
Solly Phetoe, COSATU NW Provincial Secretary, 5 November 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Unions with its supporters will be back at Ganyesa Regional magistrate court when the farmer (Thinsen Broers) will be sentence after he was found guilty on 21st May 2009. The matter has been postponed more than six times since June up to now.
Broers was accused for using his racist dogs against Johan Leshomo, a domestic worker who worked for them over 24 years.
The above case is a racial matter due to the history from 1975, even before 1994. Many workers, communities at Morokweng have reported the history of this farmer regarding his racist attitude by setting dogs against members of the community around the area.
It is alleged that our police are friends to the white farmer; therefore nothing was done until COSATU intervened in 2009 on the matter of Johan Leshomo who has lost a son due to the delaying of the case.
We call on all COSATU members, churches and communities around Ganyesa and Morokweng to be part of the demonstration by picketing at the Regional court on 9th November 2009.
1. South Africa
2.1 COSATU deplores misleading article on labour broking
Patrick Craven, COSATU's National Spokesperson, 6 November 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is seriously concerned at the false impression conveyed by the article, and particularly the headline, in Business Report, 5 November 2009 - "Labour broking is vital service, says ILO paper". As the ILO Press Statement (see below) makes clear, the report is unbalanced, takes quotes out of their context and misrepresents the ILO's position on labour brokers.
COSATU deplores what can only be a malicious and unethical attempt to influence the important debate on labour brokers. It will however only make the federation even more determined to press ahead with its campaign to have this anti-worker and anti-union practice outlawed in South Africa.
2.2 Business Report article on labour broking puzzles ILO
Vic van Vuuren, ILO Country Director, 5 November 2009
It is with concern and disappointment that I read the article in the Business Report of 5 November 2009 pertaining to Labour Brokers. To quote the ILO out of context is unacceptable particularly given the current sensitivities surrounding the debate in South Africa. I would have expected the ILO to have been contacted prior to the matter being reported upon.
The ILO remains impartial on this issue, in that it has a specific Convention on the subject that was adopted by governments, employers and workers in 1997 (Convention 181).
The tripartite partners called on the ILO Geneva to publicize Convention 181 on temporary employment services through a Workshop to promote ratification of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181) held in Geneva 20-21 October 2009.
Representatives of SACCAWU, UASA, APSO and Services SETA from South Africa were in attendance, but the Government of South Africa was not represented.
The article from Business Report on 4 November is unbalanced; it portrays part of the ILO's view, while leaving out other essential parts of our approach. Neither I nor Mr. John Myers, referred to in the article was contacted directly for the article. Mr. Myers did however give a press conference on 22 October at the Palais des Nations, Geneva.
A more accurate title would have been "Labour broking can be an important service when properly regulated, says ILO paper": we never used the word "vital", and simply said that "Private employment agencies play an important role in the functioning of contemporary labour markets."
The ILO took care to ensure that the Issues paper ("Private employment agencies, temporary agency workers and their contribution to the labour market") and the Press release ("ILO report says temporary workers among the worst hit by the economic crisis, urges balance between flexible labour markets and workers' protection") at http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/...) emphasize the essential role of Convention 181 and of the principles it includes in setting a clear framework for regulation, licensing and self-regulation of private employment agencies.
Such regulation and monitoring of the operations of private employment agencies encourages reliability; ensures effective protection of workers against unfair practices; and discourages human trafficking.
We therefore want to stress that ratification of ILO Convention No. 181 on private employment agencies can help countries to promote and implement the Decent Work Agenda by ensuring protection of the rights and working conditions of agency workers, but this should be based on compliance by private employment agencies with the principles of Convention No. 181 and with industry-wide codes of conduct.
However, if private employment agencies do not offer temporary agency workers a safe work environment, decent conditions of work, and equal treatment when compared to other workers in a user enterprise, the ILO would not support this.
The purpose of licensing and regulation of labour broking is to prevent unscrupulous, incompetent and bogus labour brokers from operating; and also to encourage the improvement of quality standards and the development of good practices.
Not all labour brokers are good, and not all labour broking is "vital"; if there is no regulatory framework in place to monitor their operations, there will no doubt be problems with the system.
2.3 COSATU welcomes Airbus decision
Patrick Craven, COSATU's National Spokesperson, 5 November 2009
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has applauded the government's brilliant decision to cancel the contract for eight Airbus A400M military freight aircraft. It is excellent news for every South African.
The burden of paying off the astronomical amount of R40 billion, on top of the current total annual defence budget is R32 billion, would have sabotaged the government's efforts to get out of the recession and revive economic growth. It could have led to a massive increase in the already huge number of jobs being lost.
The federation urges the government to continue to concentrate its limited resources on the ANC's five priority areas - decent jobs, housing, education, rural development and crime and not on totally unnecessary and wasteful projects like these aircraft.
<http://www.nehawu.org.za/>
2.4 NEHAWU welcomes government decision to cancel the purchase of Airbus A400M
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 05 November 2009
NEHAWU has welcomed the government's sober decision to cancel the contract to purchase eight Airbus A400M military freight aircraft for the South African National Defence Force.
This was an ill thought decision in the first place and was never going to help address any of the challenges that the country is struggling with at the moment.
It is a sober decision to make at a time when the soldiers in the army and South Africans in general are faced with extremely unfavourable economic conditions that are having a devastating impact on their livelihoods.
The government's priority should be to implement the key developmental priorities identified by the ANC in its 2009 Manifesto and honour the party's commitment to improve the lives of the people of this country.
NEHAWU calls for the government to review and do away with any fruitless expenditure and address service delivery challenges that are facing our country. We will remain vigilant to ensure that the promises made to the poor are fulfilled and will oppose the implementation of any policy that betrays the poor South Africans and condemns them to a cycle of poverty.
2.5 YCL does not accept Maroga's resignation
Gugu Ndima, YCL National spokesperson, 05 November 2009
The YCL has refused to not accept the sudden "orchestrated" resignation of Jacob Maroga. This is affirmation of the numerous attempts by the internal board to shift blame of gross mismanagement of Eskom to an individual. The Young Communists fully supports Jacob Maroga and demands that any process that needs to take place to deal with Maroga should be internal.
YCLSA believes that problems at Eskom are exacerbated by the fact that the mandate of Eskom has changed from being an entity that supplies electricity as part of the broader strategy of industrialization and service delivery, to a profit maximization corporation. The YCLSA demands that a full blown enquiry into the state of Eskom and its mandate should be initiated as a sense of urgency which should cover questions of governance and transformation
The YCLSA also calls upon the dismissal of Godsell as his views are well crystallized in the sentiments of the Democratic Alliance. He continues to serve the interests of White Monopoly capital that have managed to entrench themselves through previous cheaper supply of electricity by the apartheid led government and now want to slam the doors of Eskom to the black majority.
2.6 ANC YL rejects attempts to axe Maroga from Eskom
Floyd Shivambu, ANC YL National Spokesperson, 5 November 2009
The ANC YL is disgusted by ESKOM Board's attempts to remove Jacob Maroga as its Chief Executive Officer. The Board, which is under the manipulative control of Bobby Godsell, has tried every trick in the book to get rid of Maroga, including through increment of his salary amidst electricity challenges, so that the South African public can perceive him as greedy. They are now spreading a rumour that Maroga has resigned as Chief Executive Officer of ESKOM and that is a complete lie. JACOB MAROGA HAS NOT RESIGNED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF ESKOM AND WILL NOT RESIGN, EVEN UNDER THE UNDUE PRESSURE OF BOBBY GODSELL AND COMPANY.
The government of South Africa has under President Thabo Mbeki accepted blame for the massive challenges in ESKOM and energy distribution in the country. Blaming Maroga and getting rid of him is driven by the narrow interests of white businessmen whose intention to use ESKOM for their individual benefit. ESKOM as a State Owned Enterprise should be a beacon of transformation, not a sight of business factions' battles.
The ANC YL will never agree to the victimisation of Jacob Maroga; and will do everything to stop Bobby Godsell's hideous attempts to undermine African leadership in the economy. The time of treating black people and Africans in particular as subjects, who can be fired as and when the white master wishes is over and Bobby Godsell should appreciate that we are in a democratic State with principles. The ANC YL will mobilise ESKOM workers against Godsell's decision to push Maroga out of ESKOM, and illustrate to him that our democratic principles and transformation programme can never be undermined.
2.7 NUMSA lauds the move to shift SETAs to Higher Education Ministry
Castro Ngobese, NUMSA's National Spokesperson,Thursday 05 November 2009
NUMSA has commended the progressive decision by government to move Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Higher Education and Training under Minister Blade Nzimande.
To date, vocational training has remained and continues to be regarded as inferior, and still rooted in the Apartheid racial division of labour.
Further, given the inherent and dominant national, class and patriarchal contradictions within the country's education system, vocational training has been neglected.
Despite the existence of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) aimed at a unitary system of education and training in our country, training has remained fragmented with many workers unable to use skills acquired in the workplace to progress within the formal and higher education landscape.
The fragmented system where formal education was under the Department of Education and SETAs under Department of Labour compromised the principle of portability where workers could gain recognition for prior learning and be able to access institutions of higher learning.
We find Comrade Nzimande's words "This is an exciting development in the post-election restructuring of government to be more responsive to the developmental, social and economic needs of our country....provides an opportunity, at a critical moment in our history, for the creation of a coherent and single post-school education and training system that is structured both to meet the aspirations of youth and adults and to ensure that education, training and skills development initiatives respond to the requirements of the economy, our rural development challenges, and the need to develop an informed and critical citizenry", refreshing and inspirational to the millions of workers and the poor.
The move signals a breath of fresh air in the skills revolution of our country towards achieving our battle cry of building "People's Power for People's Education and Economy".
NUMSA believes that the key mandate and focus will be the unleashing of SETAs as a strategic centre in the acceleration of higher education and training landscape transformation in line with our overall developmental agenda. This should be in sync with the Freedom Charter and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) strategy to:
* Develop a co-ordinated skills development strategy, informed by an over-arching industrial strategy, based on clear sectoral industrial strategies, placing particular emphasis on scarce skills;
* Improve the quality and capacity of Further Education and Training colleges (FET's) with a particular focus on artisans and other scarce and critical skills, and developing them as primary delivery centers for Adult Education and Training (ABET);
* Rebuild a vibrant, expanded and quality FET colleges sector to improve post-schooling options and access to skills for youth and workers; and
* Build coherence in education, training and skills development by eliminating a fragmented approach that treated the Human Resource and the National Skills Development Strategies as two isolated strategic vehicles.
The union is certain that given Comrade Nzimande's commitment to the workers and the poor's struggles, we are satisfied that he will deliver in this challenging task of revitalizing the Setas to serve their intended mandate.
NUMSA wishes to express its appreciation for the sterling work done by the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, not withstanding the challenges the old system of collapsing core labour responsibilities with training imposed upon him. We are extremely happy to note that this move will give Mdladlana all the opportunity he needs to move swiftly to ban labour brokers, improve healthy and safety at places of work, and to monitor compliance with all other labour legislation.
NUMSA is looking forward to meeting with the Higher Education Minster Nzimande to share perspectives and understanding on how best the SETAs can be utilized for the consolidation of our revolution and transformation of education.
2.8 YCL welcomes firm stance on SETAs by Higher Education Minister
Gugu Ndima YCL National Spokesperson, 05 November 2009
The YCL has welcomed the expose of SETA's gross financial mismanagement made public by the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande. He expressed that using the word SETA was tantamount to using a swear word. This is the unfortunate reality and the most affected by such inefficiency are descendants of the working class and the poor.
The proposal to strengthen the relationship between SETA's and colleges and university is also welcomed by YCLSA as it is a progressive step towards the majority gaining access to institutions of higher learning as well as accelerating the skills gap that currently faces South Africa. Financial mismanagement and corruption have become a norm or the fundamental characteristic to describe institutions that were fundamentally incepted to specifically target socio-economic disparities. The current government has shown that it has every intention to curb this trend.
SETA''s can play a pivotal role in addressing skills development and furnishing young people with the necessary skills for our current economy, but this needs to simultaneously be accompanied with commitment from those that are placed in key senior positions within such institutions in order for us to attain this goal. The Minister of Higher education has also promised wide consultation for the new SETA format and the YCLSA hopes that it will include in majority, young people.
2.9 University of Free State's consultation a sham says YCL
Life Mokone, YCL Free State Provincial Secretary 5 November 2009
The Free State YCL has set the record straight that it carried no support for a person or institution that continues to be symbolic of an embodiment of a former racist regime.
YCL has said before that everyone is for reconciliation and forgiveness for as long as the two are correctly carried along with the judicial process. YCL believes that the act of forgiving while the court is facing the task to deal with the behaviour of the perpetrators is just a desire to pursue the court otherwise and it must be condemned. Forgiveness is a good intention, "yes" but good intentions are not enough...
The YCL carries no support on Jansen for the reason that he sees nothing wrong in his remarks despite the emotional damage they caused to the victims and controversy within the country. We carry no support for he continues to show no respect for youth and student structures recognized by the institution but continues to engage with everyone outside the institution and say it is "consultation". We believe that he can only earn our support when he can show a change of heart from how his predecessor treated the students. He can only earn our support when he can prioritise transformation agenda of the institution and not yearn for popularity on matters of controversy.
The YCL has raised key issues of priority that includes the student transportation to and from the campus especially in the evening. The time for English lectures to be changed from evening to day lectures to cater for black and non-Afrikaans speaking student. Infrastructure development at Qwaqwa campus must also be fast-tracked. Integration must also be treated as a matter of urgency and the renaming of Riets to be done with full involvement of the students with the name that signifies the demographics of the institution. Because we believe that racism in the institution has been institutionalized and inherent, to root it out you cannot take a short cut and hide behind forgiveness as emotional back-up.
The YCL is surprised that all of a sudden we must now be played of a confused and tainted consultation process and we are certain that the results of this will backfire in the long run. We are no soothsayers to predict that a wrong start shall lead to correctness but we believe what is wrong must corrected and so far the Professor has not shown any intention to admit to his err. The Riets four have also not shown any remorse for what they did and therefore you cannot forgive those who are not asking for forgiveness. As YCL Free state we are not going to be deceived by any form of consultation done merely as a formality.
The YCL will continue to mobilise all people who hate racism to come together as we challenge this narrow approach of the UFS.
2.10 COSATU congratulates Human Settlements minister
Patrick Craven, COSATU's National Spokesperson, 5 November 2009
COSATU has congratulated, Tokyo Sexwale, the Minister of Human Settlements, for his good decision to demolish badly built RDP houses, so that they can be rebuilt to the requisite standards.
The federation agrees with COSATU Northern Cape that "It is saddening to note that our people are still living in conditions of squalor even though claims are made that their lives have been improved through the provision of shelter. We do not just want shelter. We need decent houses for our people. Such badly built houses must be removed from the statistics of service delivery as they do not qualify to be there."
The minister's decision is fully in accord with the ANC election manifesto which made housing one of the five priority areas of focus and we shall continue to support his efforts to provide every South African with quality housing.
2.11 DENOSA applauds launch of centre for chronic diseases
Asanda Fongqo,DENOSA Communications Officer, 5 November 2009
DENOSA has noted with delight the launching of a R25-million centre for chronic diseases at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town yesterday.
DENOSA reiterates the view that chronic diseases that include high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and others are indeed on the rise in our country hence there is a need to have such facilities.
The union also draws satisfaction as it begins to see government leveling the playing fields between public and private hospitals and we are confident that similar facilities will also be opened in other parts of the country.
DENOSA together with the International Council of Nurses already have a project called "3 for 50" that is aimed to deal with three behaviours which are smoking, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. These behaviours are causing chronic diseases that include diabetes, cancer cardiac and respiratory diseases that kill 50 % of the population globally.
DENOSA is pleased that government is moving towards the right direction in terms of dealing with these diseases that have over the years received less attention.
<http://www.nehawu.org.za/>
2.12 NEHAWU demands the removal of the Western Cape Speaker of Parliament
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 5 November 2009
NEHAWU has expressed its anger and disgust over the racist remarks made by the speaker of the Western Cape provincial legislature, Shaheed Esau,that black women are over-represented in the legislature and would have to be replaced by white Afrikaans speaking people.
NEHAWU demands that this racist misogynist with his barbaric, patriarchal, racist and backward views be removed as the Speaker of the legislature because he is not fit to hold public office. The union vows to fight all attempts to make the Western Cape the last outpost of racial exclusion and we are not going to tolerate patriarchal bigots whose view of the world is blinkered by racial bias to victimize blacks and divide our society.
It would be an exaggeration to say we did not expect divisive and misogynistic tendencies from the Western Cape legislature but the statements by the speaker have spelt out the real big plan of the provincial government. We therefore challenge the Democratic Alliance to show South Africans that they are committed to racial harmony and the vision of a society that is defined by equality, integrity and justice for all by distancing themselves from these puerile statements and dismissing the speaker with immediate effect.
The speaker has introduced a culture of favouritism, nepotism and of micro-managing basic operational issues which are now centralised in his office without proper process being followed. This has created a sense of paralysis, fear, intimidation and despondency amongst the staff in the provincial legislature since his appointment.
NEHAWU is also totally opposed to the new proposed restructuring process in the legislature because there was never any meaningful consultation and will result in managers being demoted to officers.
The Provincial Legislature should be a symbol of a new democratic and transformed state that so many people of this country fought and died for and this country's painful history demands that all of us fight to eliminate racism and sexism.
The constitution of our country was achieved through sacrifices by our heroes and heroines who laid down their lives for the liberation of black people and we will not sit idle while some misogynist tries to tear it apart.
NEHAWU demands that the National Government and the Ministry of Local Government investigate this matter and intervene. The union also called on the Muslim Judicial Council of which the speaker is a member to investigate his conduct and take appropriate measures.
2.13 DENOSA calls for action on departments that receive disclaimers in the NC
Riaan Strydom, DENOSA Northern Cape Provincial Secretary, 5 November 2009
DENOSA has expressed its disappointment over the latest report that the Department of Health has once again received a disclaimer from the Auditor-General Terence Nombembe.
It is clear from this report that for the period of 2008/2009, improper controls were maintained with regard to the management of the finances. Our concern is that this has become a trend since 2004/2005 and despite calls then to improve the management and reporting of finance, the situation has not improved.
It is important to note that this severely impacts on the delivery of services to the people of the Northern Cape which are already suffering due to unemployment, poverty and the impact of the recession, all of which are contributing factors to the increase of the disease profile of the population of the Northern Cape and as a result the burden on the Department of Health increases drastically.
DENOSA is optimistic that with the interventions made so far by the new MEC of Health, Mr. M. Sokatsha, and his administration, but we want to reiterate our call for action to remedy this situation so that the money received by the Department of Health can be utilised to implement the Nursing Strategy, improve nursing services, address the shortages of staff, education and training and various other challenges.
Further taking note that the areas of focus of government is Health and Education, we are of the view that the Department are under even more scrutiny to adhere to the call for immediate action to remedy this situation.
In addition, we believe that Operation Clean Audit has come at the right time to show Government's commitment to ensure a clean audit and it is needed more than ever in the Department of Health so that the people of the Northern Cape can experience good, quality health care service delivery.
Especially in the light of the National Health Insurance that is coming, we need to have a Department of Health that is functioning to its full capacity to deliver the vision of the NHI to the people of the Northern Cape.
DENOSA Northern Cape will support the current MEC of Health, Mr. M. Sokatsha and his Department in its strive to obtain a clean audit as it is our ultimate view that we should provide a quality health care to our people.
2.14 Walking Together in Education
Dr M. Ramphele, Chairperson of Bridge,Chairperson of Dinokeng Scenarios, 5 November 2009
Dinokeng Scenarios invites you to join a day-long overview of the Dinokeng Scenarios to consider how these might impact the education sector in South Africa.
The Dinokeng Scenario process involves leaders from civil society and government, political parties, business, public administration, trade unions, religious groups, academia and the media. They have been brought together by six conveners, all of whom are actively engaged in our national issues. They are Dr Mamphela Ramphele, who chairs the convenor group, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, Mr Bob Head, Ms Graça Machel, Dr Vincent Maphai and Mr Rick Menell. This team has gathered to probe our country's present and to consider possible futures, the Dinokeng Scenarios, which suggest three possible futures for South Africa.
These scenarios are intended to stimulate action-oriented conversations among citizens as to their options and choices. The most positive outcome for our country is
reflected in the "walking together" scenario, which sees a collaborative and engaging state as well as an engaged and active citizenry.
On 11 November 2009, a select range of educational, business and national leaders will come together to probe how we can "walk together" to support the key focus areas in education, what it is that makes us "walk apart", how we can collectively shift this, and what we can do differently in the future. It is hoped that a robust and engaged discussion will contribute to the consolidation and strengthening of the country's education system.
The event will be hosted by the Dinokeng Scenario Team and the Bridge project. Bridge is an Education Innovation Project which draws on South Africa's growing heritage of educational innovation to support the implementation of the government's educational programmes of action. Bridge's objective is to build cohesiveness around working practice in the education sector.
These programmes of action articulate the educational priorities of government in the context of a clear analysis of the problems in South African education and the key levers that need to be put in place to drive necessary change. The Bridge project emerged from the Development Bank of Southern Africa's facilitated Educational Roadmap process, which helped to forge alignment on the diagnosis of South African education. Bridge is working collaboratively with the Department of Basic Education and other key educational stakeholders.
The scenarios workshop and Bridge are being supported by Convene Venture Philanthropy and Spier, both of which focus on collaborative approaches to change and leadership development, as well as by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which has significantly contributed to collaboration and dialogue in education.
We acknowledge that this is a difficult time of year but we trust that you will join us to contribute your view to "How we can walk together to support education".
Where: Spier, R310, Lynedoch Road, Stellenbosch
When: 11 November 2009
Time: 09:30-16:30
Please R.S.V.P. by no later than Friday the 30rd of October 2009 to:
Bridget-ann Woods, Telephone: (021) 531-9715, E-Mail Address: bridgetannwo...@gmail.com
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