COSATU Today, 16 September 2011
Mluleki Mntungwa
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Our side of the story
Friday 16 September 2011
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Contents
1.1 Negotiations in water sector yield positive results
1.2 Wage talks between NUM, Exarro and Impala falters
1.3 NUM’s show of force at Eskom
1.4 NW Public Safety MEC to address POPOCRU Provincial Congress
1.5 COSATU Limpopo Provincial Shop Steward Council
1.6 COSATU Eastern Cape Provincial Shop Stewards Council
2.1 COSATU supports Commission of Inquiry into the Arms Deal
3.1 COSATU salutes Iain EWOK Robinson for Israeli boycott
4.1 COSATU hosts discussions on Somalia
4.2 Join the Right2Know march to Parliament on Saturday!
1. Workers
1.1 Negotiations in water sector yield positive results
Tahir Sema, SAMWU National Spokesperson, 16 September 2011
The last round of negotiations in the water sector called upon by the South African Association of Water Utilities (SAAWU) has produced some positive results.
The negotiations saw NEHAWU, representing a minority of workers absent from the negotiations but the smaller UASA returned to the process.
The largest Union in the sector SAMWU saw fit to reduce its demands as follows:
· An across the board increase of 10% or R1000, whichever is greater
· All Total Cost To Company remuneration packages to be eliminated by 30 June 2012
· A minimum of R1600 housing allowance
· Meal Coupons to be increased to a maximum of R10.00, where they exist
- A minimum of 12.5% standby allowance
- A minimum of 12.5% shift allowance
- Maternity leave of 6 months fully paid
- Acting allowance equivalent to the payment at a higher post
- Medical aid contributions to be paid 75% by the employer
- Wet and Dry Trade Artisans to be on the same level – no current differential in qualifications. Remove discrimination between trades
- Tool Allowance to be increased with the same percentage as the annual salary increase
- Agency Shop fees to be increased to the highest denomination, Union Fees.
In response, SAAWU revised their offer to the unions along the following lines:
· An across the board increase of 6.5%
· Agree that Total Cost To Company remuneration packages to be eliminated by 30 June 2012
· Agree that Agency Shop fees to be increased to the highest denomination Union Fees.
SAAWU requested a further opportunity to consult their principals with a view to table an improved offer and to seek a further mandate, to respond to the allied demands tabled by the unions. They indicated that they will respond by close of business on 16 September.
Depending on the nature of SAAWU’s response, SAMWU will decide whether to return to the negotiating table or prepare for industrial action.
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1.2 Wage talks between NUM, Exarro and Impala falters
Lesiba Seshoka NUM National Spokesperson, 16 September 2011
Wage talks facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Impala on the one hand, and those between the NUM and Exarro on the other had failed to yield any positive results.
By the time of referring the dispute, the world ‘s number two platinum producer Impala had improved its offers to 10% for category A for year one and year two whilst it improved to 9% for category B for both years. On category C, the company tabled 8% for both years. The National Union of Mineworkers referred all these matters to its membership for a decision which was rejected unanimously.
At the heart of the dispute is the fact that workers would not be able to realize a minimum wage of R5000 a month in 2011 but will be deferred to 2012. The NUM will further consult with its members for a further mandate and report-back.
Meanwhile, mediated talks between the NUM and Exarro also failed to yield any results.The NUM rejected Exxaro‘s offers of 10% for the lowest paid workers for year one and two, 9% for year one and two for the middle paid workers and 8% for the highest paid workers. The NUM rejected this offers on the basis that they do not assist in the equalization project for Exxaro‘s operations inside the Chamber of Mines and those operations that are outside the Chamber. The operations that would be affected by a strike action should the CCMA award the NUM a certificate of non-resolution are Grootgeluk, Tshikondeni, Leeupan and Inyanda. Parties agreed that talks would continue through the CCMA between the NUM and Exarro at a yet to be announced date.
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1.3 NUM’s show of force at Eskom
Lesiba Seshoka NUM National Spokesperson, 16 September 2011
Thousands of members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) members will march in Johannesburg to demand amongst others that Eskom stops its unilateral implementation of 7%.
The members would come out in large numbers to reject with contempt Eskom‘s 7%; to reject Eskom‘s conversion of its pension fund to a provident fund; to force the parastatal to accede to the demand of a minimum service level agreement and the improvement of a housing allowance. The NUM further demands that Eskom‘s offer of deferred bonuses and shares to its executives and the board be extended to ordinary workers. “Tomorrow will be a show of force. It will be an indication to Eskom that nothing about us without us is possible” says Job Matsepe, the NUM‘s Energy Sector Coordinator.
In a separate but related event, the NUM has yesterday approached the Labour Court for relief in a bid to obtain an urgent interdict to stop Eskom‘s unilateral implementation of the disagreement. The judgment was reserved for Monday.
The details of tomorrow‘s march are as follows:
Place: Workers would gather at Mary Fitzgerald square
Time: Gather at 09H00 and march from 10H00
The march will proceed from the Square to Eskom‘s Central region in Braamfontein 204 Smith Street, where a memorandum of demands will be presented.
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1.4 NW Public Safety MEC to address POPOCRU Provincial Congress
Norman Mampane, POPCRU national Spokesperson, 16 September 2011
North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono, is scheduled to deliver an address at the 7th North West Provincial Congress of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) to be held over the weekend.
MEC Mohono who maintains that POPCRU like other progressive unions in the public sector has a role in promoting excellence within the public service cadreship is to deliver her speech on the second and last day of the two-day congress on Sunday 18 September 2011 at The Key Guest Villa in Orkney outside Klerksdorp.
Among others key issues that Mohono will challenge POPCRU members in her maiden address to the congress are the acceleration of transformation within the South African Police Service, sustaining the onslaught against crime for safer communities, deepening culture of respect for human rights, uprooting corruption within the criminal justice system and regaining public confidence in the ability of the police to safeguard the freedoms of citizens.
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1.5 COSATU Limpopo Provincial Shop Steward Council
COSATU Limpopo will hold its Provincial Shop steward Council as follows:
Date : 17 September 2011
Time : 09h00
Venue : Mahwelereng Community Hall – Mokopane
The purpose of the council is amongst others:
To present the remaining priorities for the 2011 program of action
To mobilize workers for the Living wage campaign that will be in the form of a National strike on the 5th of October 2011.
The Limpopo strike action will be held in the five Districts and Memorandums will be handed over to the relevant stakeholders. The program will be as follows:
District Town Date
Mopani Giyani 5 October 2011
Waterberg Modimolle 5 October 2011
Capricorn Polokwane 5 October 2011
Vhembe Thohoyandou 5 October 2011
Sekhukhune Groblersdaal 5 October 2011
For more information contact: Cde. Dan Sebabi on 082 779 2421 or 072 515 6699
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1.6 COSATU Eastern Cape Provincial Shop Stewards Council
COSATU in the Eastern Cape will be holding its Provincial Shop Stewards Council at the Orient Theatre, East London on the 17 September 2011 at 10h00. The Shop Stewards Council will be focusing on the COSATU’s key campaigns such as the Living Wage, Labour Brokers, Wal-Mart, Public Transport National Boycott of Pick & Pay, State of Service Delivery in the Province and the 5th October National Strike. The Provincial Shop Steward Council will be addressed by the ANC Provincial Deputy Chairperson Gugile Nkwinti and the key note address will be delivered by COSATU President, Sidumo Dlamini.
The Details are as follows:
DATE: Saturday, 17 September 2011
TIME: 10H00
VENUE: Orient Theatre, East London
The media are invited to attend and report.
Contact: Mandla Rayi
COSATU E Cape Provincial Secretary
0827792466
2. South Africa
2.1 COSATU supports Commission of Inquiry into the Arms Deal
Phindile Kunene, COSATU Shopsteward Editor, 15 September 2011
COSATU has warmly welcomes the President’s appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arms deal.
An investigation into the arms deal is crucial in demonstrating government’s campaign against corruption. It is a sign of the government’s commitment to fight corruption.
COSATU's 9th National Congress reaffirmed the call for a full and impartial investigation into the arms deal and nothing has transpired since then to make us change our minds.
We are convinced that there was a lot of corruption in the arms procurement process. The full facts about the arms deal must be exposed to the people of South Africa and the world. The innocent must be exonerated and the guilty punished, for enriching themselves at the expense of the people who put their trust in them.
COSATU is inspired by this decision and we hope that will witness similar progress in investigating the alleged corruption committed by Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Sicelo Shiceka. It is now just over five (5) months since newspapers published implicating reports regarding Shiceka’s misuse of public funds for personal businesses and yet we have not witnessed any significant move to address our concerns.
The corruption allegations against the Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and the Public Works Minister, Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde also require the same attention.
The presidency has missed the deadline in terms of responding to the Public Protector’s findings on the police lease agreements that implicate both Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde and Police Commissioner Bheki Cele.
Even-handedness in dealing with corruption is absolutely essential if we are to restore the confidence of South Africans in the government. Public representatives who betray citizens’ trust and utilize state resources to line their pockets must be brought to book.
3. International
3.1 COSATU salutes Iain EWOK Robinson for Israeli boycott
Zanele Matebula, COSATU International Relations Deputy Secretary, 16 September 2011
Heeding the recent calls made by human rights groups, civil society organizations and Palestine solidarity activists to boycott the Hilton Arts Festival (due to start today), popular Hip Hop artist, Iain “EWOK” Robinson, announced last night the cancellation of his scheduled Saturday performance.
COSATU salutes Iain EWOK Robinson.
In his cancellation letter to the Hilton Arts Festival, EWOK says:
“I cannot in good conscience willingly participate in any event that enjoys the support and patronage of the Israeli Government in any form. I believe that this is an endorsement of the criminal acts of oppression and human rights abuses consistently perpetrated by this entity against the Palestinian people.
“I feel it is my responsibility as a South African who enjoys the democratic rights that were fought for so valiantly by my parents generation of anti-apartheid activists, to participate in the similar Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Apartheid Israel.”
Art and culture is being increasingly used by Israel to ‘brand’ itself and distract from its oppressive policies. The Israeli Foreign Ministry’s involvement in this year’s Hilton Arts Festival is no exception.
Israel utilizes this branding process to whitewash its crimes and to salvage its deteriorating image. The global boycott movement affirms that it should not be “business as usual” with a state that routinely violates international law and basic human rights and calls upon people of conscience around the world not to help Israel whitewash its crimes.
Among those who are actively supporting the cultural boycott of Israel movement are distinguished artists, writers, and anti-racist activists such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Pink Floyd front-man, Roger Walters; the legendary, Gil Scott Heron; folk singer, Pete Seeger to name just a few.
Other artists who have also cancelled Israeli performances include: Bono, Megg Ryan, Dustin Hoffman, Snoop Dogg, Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, and groups such as Faithless, Massive Attack and the Pixies.
The progressive Pietermaritzburg based organization, Church Land Program, was the first group to call for a boycott of the Hilton Arts Festival. Subsequently, similar calls were made by several other groups.
These calls came on the grounds of the Hilton Arts Festival’s hosting of three Israeli plays as well as the acceptance of funding and support from the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria and the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Activists argue that this is in contravention of the 2005 Palestinian boycott call.
4. Notice
4.1 COSATU hosts discussions on Somalia
COSATU invites everyone to an open meeting to discuss the crisis in Somali to be followed by a stakeholders meeting to discuss a coordinated approach towards organising assistance or practical support for fellow Africans.
Speaker:
Omar Faruk Osman, General Secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)
Cde Omar Faruk Osman has a background as a unionist in the media sector (as a journalist) and therefore well placed to narrate the events and reality facing the people of Somali, from both a trade union and journalist point of view.
Date: 20 September 2011
Time: 14h00
Venue: COSATU House, Braamfontein
For more details contact:
Bongani Masuku, International Secretary at 011 339 4911 or bon...@cosatu.org.za
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4.2 Join the Right2Know march to Parliament on Saturday!
The National Assembly is set to vote on the Secrecy bill on Tuesday 20 September (next week). All political parties in the POIB Committee have voted in favor of the current draft of the Bill. The Bill still fails the Right2Know Freedom Text and remains a draconian law that - if passed - will have to be challenged in the Constitutional Court.
The Right2Know Campaign is calling on all democrats to send a clear message to MPS in the NAtional Assembly: There is still time for them to scrap the Bill! They must vote against it and return it to a process of redrafting through public consultation!
Join the Right2Know campaign as we all March to Parliament this Saturday. Stop the Secrecy Bill!
DATE: Saturday 17 September 2011
TIME: 10h00 - 13h00
VENUE: Gathering at . Marching to Parliament.
WEAR: Red, Black, & White
