COSATU Today 18 November 2009

COSATU is extremely disappointed at the decision of the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee to leave the level of interest rates unchanged at its present high level of 7%. It is a great missed opportunity to promote growth and create jobs through a decisive cut in rates.

This could have given a lifeline to firms which are struggling to survive, by cutting their cost of borrowing, and thus saved hundreds of jobs. It could have given a stimulus to new job-creating investment by cutting the cost of borrowing start-up capital. It could have eased the burden on individuals and households who are battling to pay the interest on their bonds and loans.

The new governor gave no reasons for her decision and appears to be still tied to the mistaken belief of her predecessor that inflation remains the main challenge facing the bank and the country, even though inflation is now on its way down while unemployment is rocketing upwards, with nearly a million jobs lost already this year and jobs disappearing at a record rate.

It is obvious that the main problem the country faces is the economic recession and the massive levels of joblessness, and not inflation. That is why the Alliance Summit on 13-15 November 2009 called for a review of monetary policy and this has now become even more urgent.

COSATU will do everything possible to implement the Summit resolution as quickly as possible and to persuade the Reserve Bank that the country cannot afford the current levels of interest rates any longer and that it must change course.

1.2 NEHAWU disappointed by Reserve Bank’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged

Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 17 November 2009

NEHAWU is disappointed by the decision of the Reserve Bank, Governor Gill Marcus and the Monetary Policy Committee to leave the interest rates unchanged given the scale of contraction of the economy and the hemorrhaging of jobs.

This is especially disappointing because it comes just after the tripartite alliance instructed its task team on macro-economic policy to continue with the process of reviewing the monetary policy of the Reserve Bank. We demand that a deadline be set for this process

As NEHAWU we are fully cognizant of the adverse effects of high inflation levels on the incomes of the poor in particular. However, it has been adequately illustrated that the high interest rate policy is a blunt instrument in fighting inflation in the South African economy.

The reality is that our economy has one of the most highly concentrated structures, hence we have seen monopolies from one sector to another being exposed and caught out in price fixing. We believe that these cartels play a major role in keeping our inflation levels high and “sticky” or unresponsive to the Reserve Bank’s use of high interest rate levels to fight inflation.

The failure of the Reserve Bank to adjust its monetary policy in these economic conditions threatens the key developmental priorities identified by the ANC in its 2009 Election Manifesto and therefore sabotages the government.

The biggest danger that confronts this country is not inflation but the reality of rising unemployment. We call on President Zuma’s administration to ensure that the decisions of the alliance are not ignored but are implemented if the commitments that have been made to the poor of this country are to be honoured.

2 Workers

2.1 CWU remains steadfast on its Vodacom Yebo Yethu shares

Gallant Roberts, General Secretary, CWU, 18 November 2009

The dispute between CWU and Vodacom on Yebo Yethu sitting before the arbitrator at CCMA tomorrow (2009-11-18) is different to the one of Telkom shares being sold to Vodafone. This is a BBEEE transaction which is part of the operating license requirements for the company (Vodacom) to satisfy. The deal its self involves a number of stake holders this includes the funders. Therefore issues such as how to repay the debt incurred and interest thereof becomes part of negotiations process where all stakeholders will be represented.

Through this process workers were not properly represented and consulted, management has used its unpopular structure called CC (consultative committee forum) as a scapegoat. Furthermore workers through trainings initiated by the company and media were informed that this deal will benefit greatly lower level staff, women and blacks without necessary excluding anyone. The employees were further informed that these shares allocation will be free of charge. Lastly in the meeting between CWU and Vodacom that was lead by the 1^st Deputy President and the CEO respectively, the company made an undertaking that they’ll avail the slot to CWU in the board of trustees in order to re-address the question of representation, however when the implementation time came all this was contradicted.

Workers had learnt a hard way that the opposite happened and to worsen the situation is that they had to wait for at least 7 years to cash these shares. To rub more salt into the wound, workers don’t even know the worth of the shares (units) allocation. There’s also a reserved shares allocation for the future staff, of which to us it is reserved for those who’re in higher position because now that the company is only employing via labour brokers its not clear if they’ll have these employed permanently.

We’re saying if the company was serious about the empowerment, the current staff employed under labour brokers should have been sufficiently allocated these shares. Since we believe they had contributed immensely in the success of the company.

Our struggle is to make sure that workers are not reduced to window dressing campaign and not to be worse off but benefit from their contributions to the success of the company. We believe that workers, BLACKS in particular should not forfeit any right to participate in this scheme purely because they did not signed up until their concern were address.

The BBEEE in its nature is to address the imbalances of the past caused by the past dragoneous Apartheid laws, and not to be manipulated to benefit a few.

2.2 Revolutionary greetings to the comrade of our times and memorial tested engagements that delivered to our situation

Nelson Lamityi, SATAWU Deputy General Secretary, 18 November 2009

The deployment of comrade since our times of memorial has always been difficult to accept, as it have always not been accept to depart ways, whilst the ultimate mission has always been known as deliverable to our ultimate outcome.

The former general secretary of SATAWU and the President of the I.T.F, comrade Randall Howard will celebrate the 18^th November 2009 in an event of a special type, given the commitment made by the Union, SATAWU. This day is wished not to have came by more than 140.000 members of the Union, noting that this tested trade unionist would have still be expected to be with the Union for more times than this sudden deployment.

The members, however with that mind noted that the former general secretary of SATAWU is not lost in their midst as it happened with same untrustworthy comrades as he will be serving in the administration that he fought for his past twenty three years. The comrade is politically stationed at the office of the Honourable minister, comrade Richard Baloyi. Yes indeed, the deployment that fits the making of this comrade and the delivery of the expected outcomes by the government and the Labour movement at large.

This is the task that comrade Randall Howard has taken with pains to accept given his love of the Trade Unions, but committing making the Union exciting in a different environment.

This is one commitment he will never compromise as in the processes he will have to interpret his political objectives informed by his massive experience in COSATU and ITF, that any massive jobs losses in horizon must be fought by all means.

It is almost twenty four year and to be precise, twenty three years that he committed himself in this course, a course that has enriched the history of working class in South Africa and beyond our borders. At the time that he joined the then Transport and General Workers Union which emerged to the giant South African Transport and Allied Workers Union, less did he know that there was this mountain challenge hat has been interpreted to this end.

In this circumstance, SATAWU did not hesitate to arrange this gala dinner as not to thank him on his achievement, but as a way of cautioning him that there is still a long walk ahead, a long work to freedom.

A gala dinner is arranged at Birchwood Hotel today, 18^th November 2009 starting at 17h00. The dinner will be attended by the Union’s Central Executive Committee, Alliance partners, COSATU affiliates leadership and other mass based organisations as to witness this historic evening.

The dinner will also be blessed by Business people, international guests, including the ITF and UNI delegates who tirelessly worked with the comrade. The evening will be revolutionarised by cultural groups and most recognised young artist ‘Unathi’ on stage with comrade Kid Sithole as the programme director.

For any information, you may contact Nelson Lamityi, deputy general secretary at 079 495 5483 or 011 333 6127, alternatively Cecilia at 011 333 6127

3 International

3.1 SSN National Conference

Lucky Lukhele, Swaziland Solidarity Network SA Chapter, 18 November 2009

The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] will be holding a national conference early next year; the conference is informed by a political decision to building strong structure across the country by SSN leadership. This has resulted in launching provincial structure in all 9 South African provinces and it will be attended by over 250 delegates and 50 international guests.

The SSN wishes to extend its revolutionary gratitude to the SACP, YCLSA, ANCYL, COSAS, and the entire mass democratic movement in South Africa in helping us build this structures in Solidarity with the people of Swaziland.

We humble request all our provincial structures to register with our office at: ssnne...@gmail.com or call comrade Lucky Lukhele at 011 339 3621 or Fax 011 339 4244.

The conference will be at the University of Limpopo in Polokwane.

3.2 A question to our government

Thobile Maso, 17 November 2009

One wonders why our South African government so church mouse quiet about brutalisation of humanity in Swaziland by Mswati and his tinkundla regime.

Why are you afraid to tell Mswati that it is intolerable to dehumanise human beings, suppress and persecute them because their guilt is the quest for democracy, happiness and harmony in their country, their guilt is to refuse to leave in their land of birth as half humans and slaves.

Their guilt is to cry in agony and fight for their dear life against poverty, disease and daily misery. Their guilt is to straighten their back and defend their children who are being robbed their future by heartless king of Swaziland and their guilt to be free like all other peoples of the world, what is wrong on that.

Why people must be called terrorist for seeking liberty and dignity in their life time, yet Mswati family and surrogates are living in heaven in the house of hell.

The South African Government cannot wishy – washy the truth about Swaziland socio political situation. South Africa must remember always that the sons and daughters of Swaziland during apartheid era, they fought with us against the brutal apartheid regime and some of them had to qualitatively compromise their lives for the liberation of people of South Africa, it will be morally and political wrong to ignore the plight of the people of Swaziland in this juncture.

Please South African government something must be done before too late, Mswati is getting out of hand, many people, and families are devastated and brutalised in front of our eyes and it is the case that cannot be ignored.

Enough! Is Enough!

3.3 Live the Promise: HIV and AIDS Campaign

Michelle Scott, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, 17 November 2009

Marking the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and its UNAIDS partners are calling for action to make the testing and treatment of children with HIV accessible for all.

The call to action is accompanied by two events: The opening of an exhibition of letters written by children and addressed to pharmaceutical companies and governments (to be displayed from today until Dec. 4, 2009) and a panel of experts on 20 November to discuss the topic of children with HIV.

“If governments and pharmaceutical companies were to increase access to testing and provide appropriate pediatric treatment for children living with HIV, they could save thousands of lives,” said Karen Plater, Associate Secretary, Stewardship and Education for Mission, The Presbyterian Church in Canada and co-chair, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance’s HIV and AIDS Strategy Group

Prescription for Life Campaign

Through the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance’s Prescription for Life campaign, children from more than 14 countries wrote letters to leaders at pharmaceutical companies and government officials asking for more to be done to care for the over two million children living with HIV around the world.

The letters urge simple and affordable diagnostic tests for infants that can be performed on the spot; increased antiretroviral treatment for all HIV-positive expectant mothers; and increased efforts by pharmaceutical companies and governments to find more appropriate and accessible treatments for children and infants.

By the end of 2008, about 275,700 children under the age of 15 were receiving antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries, up from 198,000 in 2007, 127,300 in 2006 and 75,000 in 2005. These children represent approximately 38% of all children under the age of 15 who are estimated to be in need of antiretroviral therapy worldwide, according to the Towards Universal Access Report 2009 by the World Health Organization.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere should have, including the right to health. The Convention will be 20 years old this year, and yet every year large numbers of infants die from AIDS-related illnesses without ever being diagnosed. Others die because they don’t have access to appropriate pediatric treatments and still more could have avoided contracting the virus if their mothers had access to the testing and treatment that could have prevented their children from contracting HIV.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on food and HIV and AIDS. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information about the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and the Prescription for Life Campaign, please see http://www.e-alliance.ch/

3^rd Floor COSATU House P.O. Box 1027

1 Leyds Street, cnr Biccard JOHANNESBURG

BRAAMFONTEIN, 2017 2000

Tel.: +27 (11) 339 3621/2 E-mail: in...@sacp.org.za Fax: +27 (11) 339 4244

Website: www.sacp.org.za +27 (11) 339 6880

VACANCY

Job Title

Provincial Organizer

Province

Gauteng

Reporting to

National Organizer and Provincial Secretary

Qualifications and Requirements

1.1. Active member of the SACP in good standing.

1.2. Excellent communication skills, ability to mobilize and work under pressure.

1.3. Ability to write and present reports.

1.4. Tertiary qualification would be an advantage.

1.5. Valid drivers license

Experience

2.1. In-depth knowledge of the programme of the Political programme of the SACP, Constitution and the 12^th Congress Resolutions.

2.2. A minimum of five years experience in the structures of the SACP as an activist.

Duties/Responsibilities

3.1. Targeted and strategic membership recruitment.

3.2. Implement Party programs working with Districts of the SACP in the Province, Provincial Secretary and the National Organizer.

3.3. Represent the Province at Provincial meetings and activities with other stakeholders.

3.4. Coordinate SACP involvement in external programs and campaigns within the Province.

3.5. Attend to Official meetings of the SACP in the Province, Districts, Branches and at the National level when required.

Remuneration

4.1. Salary is based on SACP Salary Grading System.

4.2. Car / Travel Allowance.

4.3. Membership of SACP Provident Fund.

Applications

5.1. Applications are now invited from suitable individuals. Applications accompanied by a CV, list of at least two references and a copy of qualifications must be addressed to:

The Head of the Office of the General Secretary, Comrade Solly Mapaila

SACP National Office

1 Leyds Street, cnr Biccard Street

Braamfontein

Johannesburg

Fax to: 011-339 8310 / 4244

Email: ses...@sacp.org.za or vuy...@sacp.org.za

Enquiries: Contact Comrade Mhlekwa Nxumalo at 011-339 3621/2