COSATU Today Special Bulletin, 13 June 2013
Norman Mampane
COSATU Today Special Bulletin
Our side of the story
Thursday 13 June 2013
‘Strengthen COSATU for total emancipation’
Contents
Workers’ Parliament
Ø Reminder: NUMSA & FAWU to unveil a programme to fast-track land redistribution in South Africa-11h00 Thursday 13 June 2013, NUMSA Head Office, Newtown
Ø Nurses and doctors hold hands with community in a march to Mankweng Hospital
Ø Enabling COSATU Members to Tweet Effectively
South Africa
Ø COSATU leadership visits the WFTU Central Offices
Ø DA party on land centenary adds insult to injury of the dispossessed
Ø COSATU KZN condemns MEC’s attack on NEHAWU
Ø FAWU statement on the hospitalization of Tata Madiba
Ø Interventions underway to remedy Compensation Fund’s ills-Cape Town
Ø Labour inspectors to be retrained for green jobs monitoring
Ø SACP Mpumalanga PEC Statement
Ø SACP statement on the passing away of Freda Cronin
International
Ø World Day Against Child Labour
Ø Ten million child labourers in domestic work
Announcements
Ø Education Trust Public Debate Invitation: Topic: The State of our Education System
Ø WWMP to run Media Training Courses for Trade Union media persons
Ø COSATU Western Cape Vacancy for Provincial Administrator
Ø Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress
Ø SADTU vacancy for a Gauteng Provincial Organizer
Ø COSATU skinning in the game of social media-Enabling the trade union movement to nurture a communicative platform
Ø Follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter!-EI GS
Ø Follow ITUC Secretary General-Sharan Burrow
Workers’ Parliament!
Reminder: NUMSA & FAWU to unveil a programme to fast-track land redistribution in South Africa-11h00 Thursday 13 June 2013, NUMSA Head Office, Newtown
Castro Ngobese, National Spokesperson & FAWU Media Officer, 13 June 2013
IRVIN JIM, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) General Secretary and MOLEKO PHAKEDI, Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) Deputy General Secretary, will address members of the media today starting at 11h00am at Numsa Head Office, 153 Bree (Cnr. Gerard Sekoto) Street, Newtown in Gauteng province.
The purpose of the press conference is to publicly unveil a detailed Programme of Action (PoA) that NUMSA and FAWU will undertake to exert pressure that will lead to fast-tracking of land redistribution in the country.
Both NUMSA and FAWU have a direct interest in agrarian transformation in South Africa, since FAWU organizes workers in farms, agro-processing and food production sectors; while NUMSA organizes workers in factories that manufacture agricultural implements.
On 26 May 2013, the national leadership of FAWU and that of the NUMSA held a bilateral meeting where both unions agreed in principle to use the centenary of the 1913 Native Land Act to launch a campaign aimed at fast-tracking land redistribution in the country.
On 08-09 June 2013, joint NUMSA/FAWU Workshops on Land and Agrarian Transformation were held across the country to prepare for the National Day of Action and to endorse the joint campaign by the two unions.
The details of the Press Conference are as follows:
DATE: Thursday 13 June 2013
TIME: 11H00am
VENUE: NUMSA Head Office, 153 Bree (Cnr. Gerard Sekoto) Street, Newtown Johannesburg, Gauteng province
Members of the media are hereby invited to attend and report.
Contact:
Castro Ngobese
National Spokesperson
Cell: 0810111137
Tel: 0116891700
Email: cas...@numsa.org.za
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Nurses and doctors hold hands with community in a march to Mankweng Hospital
Kwena Manamela, Provincial Secretary of DENOSA in Limpopo & Dr Phophi Ramathuba: SAMA chairperson for public sector doctors, 12 June 2013
Nurses, under the banner of Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) and doctors from South African Medical Association (SAMA) held hands with community members in a march to Mankweng hospital outside Polokwane today together with Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), South African Council of Churches (SACC), and retired nurses in the province to launch the Positive Practice Environment (PPE) campaign in Limpopo as a way to voice their feelings about the challenges at the hospital as well as other facilities in the province.
The campaign is a call for a safer and conducive environment in healthcare facilities for health professionals to work under as well as for patients to be able to recuperate. The march by health professionals and community members in their masses gathered near Mankweng police station and proceeded to the hospital, carrying placards with messages such as `Look at the practice environment before you charge me`, `Enough with killing of health professionals`, `Non-payment of health workers = slavery`, `Quality healthcare needs support of the community`, and `High nurse and doctor/patient ratio equals compromised care`.
"As a result of many incidents in health facilities in the province, the relationship between health workers and communities has been soured recently. For example, after four babies died at George Masebe hospital early in January this year, the community around the area marched to the hospital to demand answers from doctors. If these challenges persist, the relationship and mutual respect between communities and health workers will disappear until it`s not there anymore," says Dr Phophi Ramathuba, SAMA chairperson for public sector doctors.
Reports of bad conditions at Mankweng hospital have been in the news recently , including the death of 535 patients in four months; death of 20 babies died in a space of a week; as well as rotting bodies at the facility due to broken fridges while patients and interrupted food supply.
"Informed by these sad anomalies in the county`s healthcare facilities which often result in the shifting of the blame towards healthcare workers at these hospitals, DENOSA and SAMA are embarking on the campaign as a way for health workers to express the conditions they work under, which are beyond their control and often impact their relationship with communities," says Kwena Manamela, Provincial Secretary of DENOSA in Limpopo.
As the 1999 SADC protocol on health states, a healthy population is a pre-requisite for the sustainable human development and increased productivity in a country. Some of the principles of the protocol are to promote, coordinate and support individual efforts of all state parties to attain acceptable standard of health for their people, as well as to promote healthcare for all through better access to health services.
In line with this SADC protocol and at the back of the continuing crises in the country`s health system, DENOSA and SAMA launched the Positive Practice Environment (PPE) campaign at national level early this year. The organisations held talks with national minister about the campaign, which tries to improve the standard of health care by ensuring that there are all elements of a positive practice environment in health facilities present namely: safety of both patients and workers; payment of suppliers and workers; resources, both human and financial; enough working equipment; supplies of medication; education as a means of continuous professional development of health workers; human support for health workers; and respect.
The conditions in healthcare are highly characterised by, among other things, lack of safety; non-payment of both suppliers and health workers; interrupted supplies of equipment, medication and food to hospitals; shortage of both human and financial resources to enable health workers to function properly.
PPE is one of the Ministerial Priorities. The campaign acknowledges that the problems in health facilities are bigger than individuals and need all hands in deck by all stakeholders in solving the problems.
Issued by:
DENOSA and SAMA
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Enabling COSATU Members to Tweet Effectively
Introduction to COSATU Official Twitter Accounts
Ø @COSATU2015
Official tweets on current affairs, ideological disposition and for a Question & Answer platform
Ø @COSATU TODAY _cosatu
Seconds- COSATU roving official tweets on events, quotable sound-bites on speeches/interviews, newsflash etc.
How to Register a COSATU Member Twitter Account
Ø Go Google and type twitter/sign up
Ø Versions of name/surname must be completed
Ø Choose a username/password and don’t forget them
Ø Update your profile; picture, bio
o Picture size should be 700k
o Bio-short narrative who you are
Ø Examples of Bio; Africa's largest Federation Official tweets, the home of the toiling classes across the world, with more than 2million membership...Amandla! Johannesburg, South Africa · http://www.cosatu.org.za
Ø Choose who to follow and type @cosatu2015 and @COSATU TODAY _cosatu
Ø And you’re skinning in the game through COSATU tweets
Communicating messages that matter is like artwork
Social Media generation is here and is unavoidable
‘Let’s skin in the game of COSATU Tweets’
South Africa
COSATU leadership visits the WFTU Central Offices
WFTU, 12 June 2013
A crucial meeting between the COSATU leadership and WFTU Secretariat was held in very positive and fraternal mood during a two-days visit of the South African delegation in Athens, Greece.
Headed by the General Secretary of COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi the delegation of COSATU consisted of comrades Tyotyo James, 1st Deputy President, Simon Mofokeng, General Secretary of CEPPWAWU and President of TUI Energy, Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba, President of NEHAWU and Vice-President of WFTU, Katishi Masemola, FAWU General Secretary, Bones Skulu, SACCAWU General Secretary and Thandi Shimange, POPCRU 1st Deputy President.
The delegation meet with the WFTU General Secretary comrade George Mavrikos, the Deputy General Secretary comrade Swadesh Devroye, George Perros, member of the WFTU Presidential Council and Mohammed Iqnaibi, GUPW Palestine representative in the WFTU.
During their visit the COSATU leadership addressed an open meeting of Greek trade unionists from PAME where comrade Vavi and comrade Masemola had the opportunity to present and analyze the situation in South Africa, the challenges and the struggles of the South African working class to combat the impacts of crisis, unemployment and poverty.
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DA party on land centenary adds insult to injury of the dispossessed
Tony Ehrenreich, COSATU W Cape Provincial Secretary, 12 June 2013
COSATU Western Cape understands why the DA does not mourn the centenary of the Land Act, as it is the main DA funders who stole the land at that point 100 years ago.
The DA seeks to add insult to injury by now using public funds that could have been used to build proper toilets, to have a party on the day a hundred years ago when the grand theft took place.
The DA must alert their funders to the fact that this is the year that we are coming to restore the land to those who were dispossessed. We will be taking back land from the land thieves with minimal compensation.
The DA has consistently opposed integration in areas like Constantia, because of their desire to maintain white generational advantages and elite privileges and now they come with this gimmick, which is an attempt to present a picture that they care about the great land theft, when it is their predecessors who legitimised it.
This year we are coming to take back the land and the battle lines will be drawn between the thieves and the victims. Political parties must choose a side in the land war, and not give parties, in an attempt to create an impression that it did not happen.
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COSATU KZN condemns MEC’s attack on NEHAWU
John Dlamini, COSATU KZN Provincial Deputy Chairperson, 12 June 2013
COSATU in KwaZulu-Natal is astonished and disappointed by the manner in which the MEC for Health, Dr. Sbongiseni Dhlomo, handled the issue raised by the progressive union, NEHAWU.
We believe that issues raised affects the entire working class and workers in general who do not have medical aid and solemnly rely on the public healthcare system; hence his behaviour portrays an image of an MEC who doesn’t care about the problems of the most disadvantaged people.
KZN COSATU would like to put on record that its expectation from the responsible leader of the Alliance deployees in the state is to behave in a manner that exhibits working class consciousness and commitment.
Furthermore the federation expect the MEC to apply the principle of critical thinking where he must gather the necessary and required information first and solicit his views based on the issues raised by NEHAWU and the response of the Head of Department thereof.
It is unfortunate that the MEC responded in public by lambasting and accusing NEHAWU, in particular Provincial Secretary, Cde. Zola Saphetha, of a political agenda, without waiting for the memorandum to be handed-over to him as indicated by the NEHAWU leadership.
The MEC’s reply, without pre-empting his overall intervention, shows a potential of being defensive rather than being objective and honest in trying to find a lasting solution in impasse and possible unworkable health care system.
We, as COSATU, strongly condemn the new tendency and behaviour to direct personal attacks to an individual instead of the collective decision, as is the case in NEHAWU.
The federation has noted this tendency of isolating the Provincial Secretary of NEHAWU from two MECs deployed by the ANC into government and being accused publicly of pursuing a political agenda without any backing evidence supporting their claim as a strategy to disguise the truth about the conditions within which workers find themselves working under.
This behaviour is an excuse not to address the issues at hand raised by the union but also is tantamount to union bashing tactics.
This uncalled behaviour is foreign to the tradition and culture of our democratic movement.
We must state though that our last PEC of 04-05 June 2013, fully support the struggles being waged by workers under the banner of Cosatu affiliated unions, including in NEHAWU.
COSATU calls upon the MEC of Health to respect the union and its leadership as well as the Labour Relations Act, as amended, of which workers fought so hard for.
We urge him to do the right thing by engaging the leadership of Nehawu on the issues they are raising because we cannot afford to lose anytime on the challenges faced by our public health care system.
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FAWU statement on the hospitalization of Tata Madiba
Dominique Swarts, FAWU Media Officer,12 June 2013
The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) hereby joins the millions of freedom-loving South Africans and billions of peace-loving world citizens in wishing Tata uMadiba (Nelson Mandela) a speedy recovery and sooner return from hospital to be in the warmth of his family and home-based high-quality care.
We wish those members of the hard-working hospital team attending to his condition all the necessary strength at this juncture as they go about their treatment and care of the world iconic figure and our struggle stalwart.
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Interventions underway to remedy Compensation Fund’s ills-Cape Town
The Department of Labour, 12 June 2013
The interventions by the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund to improve the current distressed organisational performance are beginning to unfold.
This emerged during the Compensation Fund’s turn-around strategy presentation at a meeting of the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Compensation Fund Commissioner, Shadrack Mkhonto, said a Rand Mutual Assurance pilot project is in place to deal with the ills in the Fund to improve its organisational performance.
“Amongst other aspects that we have to improve our performance on, is to reduce the paper through electronic submissions, improve the turnaround time of processing payments and debt collections through flexible channels, implement the new organisational structure as well as decentralisation of CF’s functions in various province,” Mkhonto said.
Mr Groenewald, member of the Select Committee, said we can make as much turn around strategies as possible but if there is no effective management and low staff morale, then we have nothing to work on.
On challenges facing the Fund, Director General for Labour, Nkosinathi Nhleko said, “issues such as huge numbers of ministerial complaints, audit qualifications, fraud, systems challenges as well as a large number of public protector complaints have infested the fund over the years.”
“It is important to note that we do not have a strategy in place at the moment, but steps are being taken towards the development of a turnaround strategy to address the challenges in the Fund”.
Nhleko said: “amongst other steps we are currently engaging in to remedy the situation are regular stakeholder engagement with medical services providers and business associations as well as engagement with oversight structures such public protector and auditor-general.”
Turning to the return of earnings, Mkhonto said: “ for the period ending March 2013, a total of 94,302 online submissions were received with total revenue of R 3.3 billion”.
He said in the last two months when 2012 submissions were opened for the submission we received 82,870 submissions with total revenue of R 3, 4 billion.
Issued by: Page Boikanyo
Departmental Spokesperson
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Labour inspectors to be retrained for green jobs monitoring
The Department of Labour, 10 June 2013
GENEVA - Labour inspectors would have to be retrained not only on how to identify hazards associated with some of the technologies that are going to be used with the proliferation of green jobs, but also to enable them to educate workers about the risks associated with the greening process.
This is one of the recommendations from the committee on Sustainable Development, one of the committees of the 102nd International Labour Conference meeting in Geneva, Switzerland this week.
In response to this recommendation, the Department of Labour’s Chief Inspector, Mr Thobile Lamati, said the department was already making arrangements for the retraining of inspectors.
“We will be training our inspectors and workers on the risks posed by the transition from fossil fuel to renewables. Sustainable development, decent work and green jobs guarantees the occupational health and safety of workers,” Lamati said.
We are already in the process of looking at the policy implications of this economic shift. It is important, where necessary, that we ensure the greening processes are properly regulated to give effect to the decent work country objectives,” he said.
The committee acknowledged that the transition to sustainable development and green jobs will cause shifts in volumes, composition and quality of employment across sectors. Caution should therefore be exercised during the navigation to a greener economy. Given the vulnerability of workers in this sector, it was also felt that there is a need for strengthening of social protection to eliminate or reduce worker vulnerability.
Other committees which have been hard at work since the 6th of June, include the Committees on New Demographic context; Application of Standards and on the recurrent discussion on social dialogues.
The Minister of Labour, Mrs Mildred Oliphant is also attending the conference and is expected to address the National Assembly on Wednesday, the 13th of June.
Issued by the Labour Ministry
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SACP Mpumalanga PEC Statement
Lesetja Dikgale, SACP Mpumalanga Provincial Spokesperson, 12 June 2013
The SACP Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee met in eMalahleni on the 9th of June 2013.
The normal constitutional PEC meeting focused on the challenges facing the working class and the poor, Organizational development and 2014 general elections.
PEC reaffirmed that building and defending our revolutionary alliance is part of our major organizational tasks, we therefore need to consult each other and work together on key issues and programmes that affect our people, however much more work needs to be done to improve alliance relations in the province.
We are coming from a successful PGC of the ANC, working towards a bilateral with COSATU on the 21st of June to strengthen relations between this two axis of the left, and we are going to have an agent bilateral with SANCO before the end of July this year.
PEC noted that the new terrain of our struggle is to stop an abuse for the garnishee orders against the working class and the poor, and this to happen, we need to properly start a campaign for the transformation and diversification of the financial sector.
PEC noted with concern an attempt by thugs to intimidate the 2nd Provincial Deputy Secretary comrade Mandla Tibane through hijacking, instead it hardened our resolve to confront them and refuse to be intimidated by criminals.
The people of this province are relying on us, the vanguard of the working class, in defending them, we dare not fail.
Our campaigns are morally superior and display a lot of courage, we are fearless and ready to suffer for the truth.
We are going to continue to fight against corruption and political killings in the province. The PEC noted with concern about young men in the province who died while attending traditional mountain school for a transition to manhood.
The rich and respected tradition of initiating our young men is in most cases taken for granted and is now used for maximising profit to others. We condemn this kind of behaviour and those that are responsible should be held accountable. We also want to send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the young men.
2014 National Elections
The Central Committee has once more, recommitted us to work tirelessly, for the overwhelming victory of the ANC. We are going to participate in the elections structures with vigour, as we fully understand the bad implications of donating this province to bourgeois parties.
That might mean a serious class paralysis for the progressive forces. The ANC from its inception was an honourable organisation built on revolutionary morality of liberating South Africa.
We must therefore defend it to remain in power, so as the National Democratic Revolution could be implemented to its logical conclusion.
All indications are that, we are going to face tougher elections, judging by the bi-election in Mayflower, in which we were beaten by an opposition.
The SACP will be working very hard for the hegemony of the ANC in those hot spots that are targeted by the opposition parties in our province. We are taking a responsibility for our struggle and this coming elections must be won convincingly.
The people of Mpumalanga province knows that the only organisation, with a revolutionary history and vision to take this province forward is the African National Congress.
We therefore firmly believe that we are going to defend our province against imperialism and monopoly capital by delivering a decisive election victory for the African National Congress during the forthcoming 2014 national elections.
International
The PEC noted with concern that Swaziland, Africa`s last monarchy, will hold controversial parliamentary elections during the month of September.
These undemocratic elections are going to take place while political parties have been banned and three activists are arrested and charged with sedition during protests against the King`s rule.
The struggle of the people of Swaziland remain our responsibility, divisions that are there between PUDEMO and Communist Party of Swaziland are worrying.
We must agitate for democracy in Swaziland together with our alliance partners, it is us who will feel the brunt of Swazi poverty because of proximity.
Africa must be independent from all forms of colonialism, but we also condemn leaders who are still using tribalism in order to achieve their narrow selfish interest.
Conclusion
The PEC is wishing young people of this province to focus on their development during this youth month, and continue to support our struggle in making sure that they register for 2014 elections in large numbers especially the Mandela children, who will be voting for the first time in this coming elections.
We wish the former President Nelson Mandela a speedy recovery.
Issued on behalf of the SACP Mpumalanga Province
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SACP statement on the passing away of Freda Cronin
Dr Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary, 12 June 2013
The SACP has learned with sadness of the passing away of the mother of our 1st Deputy General Secretary Cde Jeremy Cronin, Freda Cronin, who passed away this morning.
We have been aware that for some time her health had taken a knock.
The SACP sends its deepest condolences to Cde Jeremy and the entire family. During this difficult moment, you are in our thoughts. The entire SACP family has lost a mother.
The 170 000 members of the SACP hope that the pain of your loss will be lessened by the knowledge that we share in your loss.
Statement Issued by:
SACP General Secretary - Dr Blade Nzimande
International
World Day Against Child Labour
Zuzanna Muskat-Gorska, International Trade Union Confederation, 12 June 2013
The ITUC is calling on governments to step up commitment to the global fight against child labour, with new evidence from the ILO that progress is slowing. 215 million children are still at work instead of in school.
"The two ILO Conventions on child labour have been ratified by the vast majority of governments, but tens of millions of children are experiencing the exploitation and misery of child labour when they should be getting a decent education. The economic crisis, and the obsession with austerity, are severely hampering efforts to get the children out of work and into school," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
177 governments have now ratified ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, while 165 have ratified Convention 138, which is the main global reference point for the age at which people under the age of 18 can begin work experience, apprenticeships or enter work full-time.
A special focus on the World Day Against Child Labour this year is the situation of children trapped in domestic servitude, facing some of the most severe exploitation and physical and psychological abuse. So far, 10 countries have ratified Convention 189 on Domestic Work, adopted by the ILO just two years ago.
"Out of sight, out of mind, can no longer be the reality for children in domestic servitude or indeed in any other form of exploitation. The global community needs to boost action directed specifically at tackling child labour, and also focus on quality education, social protection and labour inspection, instead of the erosion of these crucial services to satisfy subjective fiscal targets that are tearing communities apart," said Burrow.
The union movement is concerned that much of the focus for action on child labour has been on specific projects, without governments putting comprehensive policies in place. An overall government policy and programme approach is essential. Without this, sustained impact from individual projects to tackle child labour in particular locations or sectors is difficult or even impossible.
For more information, see:
ILO-IPEC http://www.ilo.org/ipec/lang--en/index.htm
Global March Against Child Labour http://www.globalmarch.org/
12 x 12 campaign http://www.ituc-csi.org/domestic-workers-12-by-12?lang=en
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 156 countries and territories and has 315 national affiliates.
Follow us on the web: http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 02 04 or +32 476 621 018
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Ten million child labourers in domestic work
ILO, 12 June 2013
To mark World Day Against Child Labour, the ILO publishes a report outlining the abuses suffered by millions of children working in family homes.
An estimated 10.5 million children worldwide – most of them under age – are working as domestic workers in people’s homes, in hazardous and sometimes slavery-like conditions, says the ILO.
Six and a half million of these child labourers are aged between five and 14 years-old. More than 71 per cent are girls.
According to the latest figures in a new ILO report, Ending Child labour in domestic work, they work in the homes of a third party or employer, carrying out tasks such as cleaning, ironing, cooking, gardening, collecting water, looking after other children and caring for the elderly.
Vulnerable to physical, psychological and sexual violence and abusive working conditions, they are often isolated from their families, hidden from the public eye and become highly dependent on their employers. Many might end up being commercially sexually exploited.
“The situation of many child domestic workers not only constitutes a serious violation of child rights, but remains an obstacle to the achievement of many national and international development objectives,” said Constance Thomas, Director of the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).
The report, launched to mark World Day Against Child Labour, calls for concerted and joint action at national and international levels to eliminate child labour in domestic work.
“We need a robust legal framework to clearly identify, prevent and eliminate child labour in domestic work, and to provide decent working conditions to adolescents when they can legally work,” Thomas stressed.
It is estimated that an additional 5 million children, who are above the minimum legal age of work in their countries, are involved in paid or unpaid domestic work globally.
Hidden from view
Child domestic work is not recognized as a form of child labour in many countries because of the blurred relationship with the employing family, the report says. The child is “working, but is not considered as a worker and although the child lives in a family setting, she or he is not treated like a family member.”
This familial and legal “care vacuum” disguises an “exploitative arrangement”, often characterized by long working hours, lack of personal freedom and sometimes hazardous working conditions. The hidden nature of their situation makes them difficult to protect.
The report calls for improved data collection and statistical tools so that the true extent of the problem can be ascertained. It also presses for governments to ratify and implement ILO Convention 138, concerning the minimum age for admission to employment and ILO Convention 182, on the worst forms of child labour.
However, it stresses that domestic work is an important source of employment, especially for millions of women. This has been recognized in the landmark ILO Convention 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers which, the report says, should also be promoted as part of the strategy to eliminate child labour in domestic work.
“Domestic workers of all ages are increasingly performing a vital task in many economies. We need to ensure a new respect for their rights and to empower domestic workers and their representative organisations. An essential aspect of this new approach involves tackling child labour.” said Thomas.
For more information please contact the Department of Communication and Public Information atcommun...@ilo.org or news...@ilo.org or +4122/799-7912.
Announcements
Education Trust Public Debate Invitation: Topic: The State of our Education System
Join us in discussion as Nick Taylor presents the findings of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit’s Report on the state of literacy teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase
Dear Guest,
The University of Johannesburg, Kagiso Trust and the City Press cordially invite you to the Education Conversations 6th Series event.
Date:
Tuesday 2 July 2013
Time:
07h00 for 07h30 (morning)
Guest Speaker: Nick Taylor, CEO of the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU)
Venue:
University of Johannesburg,
School of Tourism and Hospitality - Protea Auditorium,
Bunting Road, Auckland Park,
Johannesburg
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WWMP to run Media Training Courses for Trade Union media persons
Martin Jansen, Director/Editor, Workers’ World Media Productions, 13 June 2013
Dear Comrades
You are hereby invited to apply to the WWMP Media Training course taking place at our training facility in Braamfontein, Johannesburg during 16 – 20 September 2013.
The course is aimed at full-time trade union media officers, including office-bearers who need to deepen and broaden their knowledge of the media landscape as well as sharpen their skills in areas of your work such as press releases, radio and TV interviews etc. It is a relatively advanced course that will draw upon experienced media educators and personalities in the field to put you through your paces such Siki Mgabadeli and Jeremy Maggs.
Please find our training brochure detailing more about the course at www.wwmp.org.za or call the office and the cost as well as the application form for you to complete and send to us once you’ve gotten the consent from your union for attendance and payment.
Please note that only 20 participants will be allowed on the course and you are advised to apply soonest.
Yours in labour education.
Martin Jansen
Director/Editor
Workers’ World Media Productions
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COSATU Western Cape Vacancy for Provincial Administrator
The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions [COSATU] has a vacant position of the Administrator in its Cape Town Provincial office.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the smooth running of the provincial office and finances.
Functions include;
1. Task related to reception;
· Answer switchboard and take messages
· Receive visitors and direct them to the relevant office/person
· Assists workers who might need advice
2. Tasks related to finances
· Prepare financial statements for the approval of the Provincial Executive Committee or Provincial Congress
· Submit financial statements to the Provincial Accountant at Head Office
· Prepare cheques with necessary requisition forms and supporting documents to be approved by the Provincial Secretary and signed by the office bearers
· Control, record, reconcile and account for all petty cash of the Province in terms of the Federation Financial policy
· Record copies of all financial records of the Federation in safe files
· Collect all necessary documentation from the bank from time to time
· Deposit all monies received on behalf of the Federation within three 930 days of actual receipt
3. Administrative tasks
· Type and write all notices, reports and minutes of the constitutional meetings that might be called by the Provincial Secretary or other Federation’s officials
· Do all logistical tasks for the office
· Attend PEC and RC and /or any other meetings as may be requested by the Provincial Secretary
· Coordinate Gender
· Collect mail from the post and bank
· In consultation with the administrative Secretary, order station for the office
· Develop a filling system
4. Other
· Keep the office surroundings tidy and in clean conditions
Requirements
· A level 4 NQF qualification with a minimum of 5 years experience in Trade Union work or in non-governmental organization in an equivalent job
· Bookkeeping
· Understanding of South African Labour Laws
· Good administrative skills
· Be computer literate
· Numeracy and literacy skills
· Be proficient in English
· Be prepared to work unlimited hours
All applications should be sent before 14th June 2013 with detailed CV and contactable references to:
The COSATU General Secretary c/o Khanyisile Fakude
Email to :Khany...@cosatu.org.za
Please not that communication will only be made to those who will be shortlisted.
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Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 12 June 2013
The NATIONAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND ALLIED WORKER’S UNION {NEHAWU} will be holding its 10th National Congress from the 26th -29th June 2013, at Birchwood Hotel ,Benoni ,Gauteng under the theme:”BUILD STRONG WORKPLACE ORGANISATION,CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS AND INTERNATIONALISM”.
The National Congress is the highest decision making body of the union that has the powers to adopt new resolutions and elect new National Office Bearers{NOB}.
Delegates from all structures of the union will attend and assess the progress that has been made by the union in implementing its resolutions since the last congress that was held in 2010.
The congress will also pass the new resolutions and map the way forward for the next three years.
The gathering will be addressed by the tripartite alliance leaders{ ANC,SACP and COSATU} and other international fraternal organisations.
The 10th National Congress is scheduled as follows:
Ø Date : 26-29 June 2013
Ø Venue : Birchwood Hotel {Gauteng}
Members of the media are invited to attend, cover and report on the congress. To confirm attendance, journalists are requested to send their responses to the National Spokesperson: siz...@nehawu.org.za
The following information should be included in the confirmation reply for accreditation and logistical purposes.
Ø NAME AND SURNAME
Ø MEDIA INSTITUTION
Ø E-MAIL AND CONTACTDETAILS
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat
For further information, please contact:Sizwe Pamla {NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer} at 011 833 2902- 082 558 5962 or email siz...@nehawu.org.za
Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za
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SADTU vacancy for a Gauteng Provincial Organizer
SOUTH AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC TEACHERS’ UNION (SADTU)
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has the following vacancy at its Provincial Office in Gauteng.
Provincial Organising Secretary
This is a senior position within the organisation and only experienced persons need to apply.
The above incumbent will be required to perform the following duties:
- Develop a provincial recruitment campaign/ strategy for all education institutions
- Organise and attend to launches of union structures in all institutions, e.g. schools, colleges, universities
- Ensure the smooth running of the organising department
- Represent union members at different forums
- Develop capacity within the structures of the union
- Assist with conducting elections within the union structures
Qualifications
- Post Matric qualification and or relevant experience
- +/- 3 years organising experience
- Thorough understanding of the trade union movement in SA
Other requirements
- Good negotiation and bargaining skills
- Computer literacy (MS Office)
- Ability to work under pressure
- Report writing skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Good written and communication skills
- Valid Driver’s License
Interested persons are invited to apply for the above mentioned post. Application letter together with a detailed CV and certified copies of educational qualifications should be forwarded to:
The Provincial Secretary
Gauteng Province
1st Floor TFC Building
32 Von Brandis Street
Marshalltown
2001
Enquiries: (011) 331 1443
Kindly take note of the following:
- The salary is negotiable.
- Correspondence will only be entered with short-listed candidates.
Closing Date : 14 June 2013
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COSATU skinning in the game of social media-Enabling the trade union movement to nurture a communicative platform
The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions has broken new grounds by enabling its members and the society at large, to shape its progressive work.
Follow COSATU General Secretary, cde Zwelinzima Vavi @zwelinzima1 and also COSATU’s Official twitter handles @_cosatu and @cosatu2015, for a second to second update on issues affecting the working class in South Africa and elsewhere.
And the Federation has a Facebook Page ; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congress-of-South-Africa-Trade-Unions-Cosatu-Today/390972744302076?fref=ts
Forward with building a strong and vibrant trade union movement through a communication platform.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
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Follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter!-EI GS
Education International
EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen is now on Twitter - follow @fredvanleeuwen for news, views, insights and highlights from the global education scene.
"Twitter is an amazing tool. Anyone can publish, and re-publish, information instantly, and thus distribute knowledge to thousands of people within minutes. Look at the revolutions in Arab countries that relied on Twitter for rapid communication; or the heated debates that spring up on Twitter during large events like the State of the Union address in the United States - these events show the immense potential the service has," he said.
"I am happy to be able to contribute, and look forward to sharing and discussing with colleagues and friends via Twitter."
To follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter, click here to go to@fredvanleeuwen, his Twitter profile. It is also possible to follow@eduint, Education International's offical Twitter account.
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Follow ITUC Secretary General-Sharan Burrow
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Norman Mampane (Communications Officer)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street
Braamfontein
2017
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg
2000
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct 010 219-1342
Mobile: +27 72 416 3790
E-Mail: mam...@cosatu.org.za
