COSATU Today, 22 May 2013
Norman Mampane
COSATU Today
Our side of the story
Wednesday 22 May 2013
‘Strengthen COSATU for total emancipation’
Contents
Workers’ Parliament
Ø NUM Central Committee gathering at St George Hotel from Thursday, 24th May 2013
Ø Clothing workers to protest today against UCTA employers
Ø COSATU NW support workers’ demands to be paid performance bonuses
Ø COSATU NW calls on Minopex to stop exploitation
Ø Enabling COSATU Members to Tweet Effectively
South Africa
Ø COSATU Open Letter to Metrorail on 2013 Train fare increases
Ø COSATU welcomes court ruling delaying toll roads - even though this is just a technical gimmick by DA
Ø NEHAWU Mpumalanga to embark on a service delivery march to Matikwane Hospital
Ø Death at initiation Schools and suicide at the University of Limpopo
International
Ø ILO's Director-General visits a 'Hello-Work' employment centre in Japan
Ø Industry controlled Responsible Jewellery Council fails to fulfill promise
Comment
Ø Call for applications - Masculinities, Leadership & Gender Justice Training Course
Announcements
Ø Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress
Ø NEHAWU vacancy for a Tshwane Regional Organizer
Ø NEHAWU Vacancy for a Vuyani Mabaxa Regional [Jhb] Organizer
Ø Africa Day & District Political Schools Launch Supported by Limpopo Arts And Culture Association [LACA] on the 25th May 2013
Ø Chris Hani Institute & City Press Public Debate Invitation!
Ø The South African Medical Association Vacancy for IR Advisor
Ø The South African Medical Association Vacancy for Organising and Bargaining Officer
Ø SACP Political Lecture in memory of Comrade Juda Tsotetsi Invitation!
Ø SAFM/Workers Wednesday coming schedule
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!
NUM Central Committee gathering at St George Hotel from Thursday, 24th May 2013
Lesiba Seshoka, NUM National Spokesperson, 22 May 2013
The Central Committee of the NUM, the biggest decision-making body of the organisation outside congress will meet on Thursday (23 May) and Friday (24 May) at St George Hotel outside Pretoria.
Over 650 delegates from the branches throughout South Africa will attend.
The Central Committee will focus on the organisational, economic, political and international matters facing the organisation. This year ‘s theme is Defend and Advance.
The Central Committee will be addressed by Enoch Godongwana from the African National Congress (ANC), Thulas Nxesi from the South African Communist Party (SACP), Zwelinzima Vavi, the General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Minister of Mineral Resources, the Hon. Susan Shabangu.
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Clothing workers to protest today against UCTA employers
Christopher Soetsane, SACTWU’s Qwa Qwa Branch organiser, 22 May 2013
Hundreds of Workers in the clothing industry in Qwa Qwa will take to the streets to express their anger towards UCTA employers who have failed to comply with the current Gazetted agreement.
The now extended agreement came into effect on the 22nd April 2013 and UCTA employers have failed to comply with it.
The details of the protest is as follows:
Date: 22 May 2013
Time: 10 am
Venues: From Freedom Square next to Phuthaditjhaba Hall to Industrial Area at Old Unity next to Bus Rink in Qwa Qwa
Issued by: SACTWU
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COSATU NW support workers’ demands to be paid performance bonuses
Solly Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2013
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province supports the demand of the workers at Lanxess mine to be paid performance bonuses.
COSATU have learned that over the years the workers have been excluded from getting these bonuses despite the performance of the company, while the management was getting these bonuses.
The chairman of the board issued a letter to all employees worldwide that indicated the company is doing well in 2012 and that all employees must share the Euro115 million in the annual performance payment of 2012.
The management have been sharing this money among themselves and excluding the real workers who have made the company to be what it is today.
COSATU believes that if the company has performed well it is through the sweat of these workers and therefore they are also entitled to this bonus and it should not be given to management alone.
We are calling on the company’s board of directors who are based in Germany to make sure that all workers are paid as per the letter from the chairman of the board, it is reported that some workers in Newcastle are paid between R20 000 and R23 000.
COSATU have also learned that workers were been shot at by the private security company and COSATU calls on those security officers to stop intimidating and shooting workers who are demanding what they are rightfully entitled to.
COSATU is aware that the security company that is being used to shoot workers is the same one that shot workers at Rabone furniture in 2012 and nothing happened to the criminal cases opened by workers.
COSATU calls on the SAPS to investigate the conduct of the security company and, if needs be, all those who will be found to have contravened the laws must be arrested.
We are proceeding with our discussions with the employer tomorrow and no one must be dismissed for the unprotected strike provoked by the employer.
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COSATU NW calls on Minopex to stop exploitation
Solly Phetoe, COSATU North West Provincial Secretary, 21 May 2013
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the North West province have learned with disappointment that the labour broker company called Minopex is intimidating workers by dismissing them.
These dismissals are taking place when workers are demanding the improvement of benefits and working condition, which we believe it is within their rights to do so.
One of the reasons why they are dismissed is that workers attended a mass meeting to deal with their exploitation issues in the company.
Workers embarked on unprotected action and management selected a few and dismissed them, while all workers were part of the action.
We are happy that during our Section 150 CCMA intervention we were able to agree that all workers must be reinstated.
The critical matter is the conditions on reinstatement, with which the federation is not happy.
The matter must be debated with the employer to deal with those conditions.
COSATU would like to advise the company to stop such dirty tricks as it might create labour unrest in the work environment and this is a situation which is not beneficial to anyone.
COSATU calls on Minopex to review the working conditions of their employees and to improve their benefits with immediate effect for the sake of labour peace.
As the federation we are taking the matter up with the traditional leadership of the land to deal with entire matter of banning of the labour brokers in our province.
We are giving feed-back to workers tomorrow.
Once workers are back at work we will have to have a full discussion with the employer on the attitude against the workers or we will have to take a mass action against all the labour brokers as part of our campaign.
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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 Open Letter to Metrorail on 2013 Train fare increases
Tony Ehrenreich, COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 21 May 2013
We appreciate the constructive engagement today on the price increases for 2013, which increases we were first advised about at the start of May 2013.
The present formulation for price increases presents a number of challenges to working families in under-privileged areas, as they will be compelled to pay a greater percentage of these increases. |
Kindly follow the link to read: http://www.cosatu.org.za/docs/pr/2013/pr0521b.pdf
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COSATU welcomes court ruling delaying toll roads - even though this is just a technical gimmick by DA
Tony Ehrenreich, COSATU Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 21 May 2013
COSATU remains concerned that this court case is just a waste of tax-payers money by the City of Cape Town, as it does not deal with the fundamental issues of toll roads.
Toll roads are bad for the people because it will ensure that only people with money will be able to ride the nice toll roads, whilst the people without money will have to take the back roads. It’s much like the health system where wealthy people have a great system, but the poor have to use an under-funded poorer quality general health system.
The DA is thus not opposing the principle of turning basic needs into commodities in all areas, but rather being expedient in the instances of roads, while saying nothing about healthcare or education, where we also have 2 tier systems.
COSATU believes that if we need more money to build the roads we should tax the wealthy more through income tax. But this is the constituency of the DA, so they won’t want to increase the tax levels, as any increases in tax for the super wealthy may mean a decline in their contributions to the DA Elections campaign.
We need a comprehensive programme to oppose the toll roads, as the courts can’t stop tolls as it’s a government decision, only mass action can stop it.
The DA is not building a campaign - they are wasting money on court technicalities.
The Cosatu campaign will be a collection of like-minded organisations who agree to the principles outlined above, which will include mass action.
The DA is unable to run a campaign of mass action, as they only have people and organisations who are anti-ANC.
They only stand against things and don’t stand for anything positive in the Country.
This is mainly about defending the apartheid generational advantage of white communities because they believe they are the main tax payers.
COSATU will continue running a real campaign against toll roads, and will not use Government money for gimmicks in the courts against toll roads.
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NEHAWU Mpumalanga to embark on a service delivery march to Matikwane Hospital
Sizwe Motha, Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, 21 May 2013
NEHAWU will be leading a joint march together with the ANC, SACP and COSATU on the 23rd of May 2013 at Matikwane Hospital, Mkhuhlu, and Bushbuckridge.
The march will be about our outright rejection of outsourcing and privatization of public services including the use of Public Private Partnerships{PPP’s}.
We will be calling on the provincial administration not to renew the lapsed tender contracts at Matikwane hospital. The outsourcing of services has resulted in the local communities’ not getting access to public healthcare which is a fundamental human right enshrined in our Constitution.
This arrangement has further put a strain and created an imbalance in the resource allocation, since certain services are referred to the nearby public hospital that is, Mapulaneng.Some patients are forced to pay exorbitant fees at private hospitals.
The details of the march are as follows
Date : Thursday, 23 May 2013
Meeting Venue : Mkhuhlu Shopping Complex
Time : 12:45
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Death at initiation Schools and suicide at the University of Limpopo
Klaas Nono Mabunda, ANCYL Limpopo, 22 May 2013
Every nation has to have its distinctiveness and obedience in the manner that it observes culture and guarantee the society of the importance of adhering to our customs, such that the world remains in its caring best and adjust fairly in the daily livelihood.
It is in the culture of most tribes in our country that maturity is ascertained not only by private parts but by undergoing certain processes, far away from our households for a prearranged period, under supervision and guidance of the elderly with certain experiences, who are to guard jealously against death.
The initiation schools are nowadays turned into slaughter houses with people dying like flies everyday, this is brought by the passion for money meted by those who initiates schools and some of which do so without having necessary permission.
The ANCYL Limpopo is humbly making a call to young people and the elderly who are yet to go to initiation schools to ensure that the schools they go to are properly coordinated and that the Department of Health and Police are monitoring compliance on both safety and hygiene.
We further urge that people should equally make use of medical circumcision as freely offered at Public Hospitals throughout the year.
The South African Police Service should arrest everybody responsible for the death and impose harsher sentences, we cannot tolerate a situation wherein our culture is badly misused and brought to shame by self-centered traditional healers.
If the mortality rate continues to mount as it doesn’t decrease per year, we should rise as communities against all the Initiation Schools and persuade laws to only recognize medical circumcision instead, this will not be by intention, the discarding of our culture, but ensuring that loosing lives should only be by the will of God, not recklessness.
Suicide at the University of Limpopo
The ANCYL Limpopo has learned with shock and disappointment the unfortunate death of a student at the University for apparently having had caught his girlfriend being unfaithful.
Death can never be acceptable, particularly when it is self orchestrated regardless who did what, we moreover make a call to every young person who is involving his/herself in romantic relationship to do so morally and understand the essence of romance and learn its significant rule of faithfulness, and by no means succumb to temptation, as romance is a democratic not a one party state, recalling that every action affects our partners.
We are making a humble call to parents, teachers, lecturers and churches to be frank with children on matters of romance, and continuously enlighten them of the principles of abstinence to those that haven’t started dating as yet.
Regardless how disenchanted we may fall of our partners, taking our lives should never be an option, but opt to share with family and friends about our encounters.
We also call for young people to reduce or even abstain from taking intoxicating substances and accept the Lord as their knight in shining armor.
Universities should ensure that they provide necessary infrastructure for prayer sessions of students, and also invite counselors on weekly basis.
We send our deepest condolences to the deceased student.
Issued by the ANCYL Limpopo
International
ILO's Director-General visits a 'Hello-Work' employment centre in Japan
ILO, 22 May 2013
On his first trip to Japan as ILO's Director-General, Guy Ryder visited one of the Japanese Public Employment Security (PES) Centres, also known as a 'Hello Work' centre, which is part of a network that serves 170,000 people each day nationwide.
He met with the staff of their largest 'Hello-Work' office in Tokyo and saw how the employment security system worked from the job seeker's point of view.
http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/multimedia/video/events-coverage/WCMS_213784/lang--en/index.htm
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Industry controlled Responsible Jewellery Council fails to fulfill promise
Anita Gardner, IndustriALL Global Union Director of Communications, 22 May 2013
Industry controlled Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) fails to fulfill promise of preventing conflict diamonds and dirty gold. Trade unions and environmental groups team up to expose deep flaws in jewelry certification system.
Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Geneva, Sydney, 22 May 2013 – In a new report, More Shine Than Substance: How RJC certification fails to create responsible jewelry, an international coalition of labor and environmental groups indict the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)’s certification system as misleading jewelry consumers. The RJC holds its annual meeting in Milan on 23 May.
Jewelry is meant to lift our spirits. But it loses its value if it’s made with gold or diamonds that are tarnished by human rights abuses or environmental destruction,
said Earthworks’ No Dirty Gold campaign director Payal Sampat. She continued,
Unfortunately, RJC’s certification cannot reassure consumers that the gems and precious metals that pass through its system did not come at the cost of community health or clean water.
The groups releasing More Shine Than Substance include the trade union federation, IndustriALL Global Union, which represents 50 million workers globally, CFMEU Australia, United Steelworkers, and environmental advocacy groups Earthworks and MiningWatch Canada.
More Shine Than Substance documents how the RJC’s certification system offers little in the way of real solutions to the serious human rights, labor and environmental problems that caused RJC’s formation. The RJC Board of Directors consists exclusively of industry representatives, with no representatives from impacted communities, labor, or environmental organizations. This exclusion is in sharp contrast to other, more robust, certification systems such as the Forest Stewardship Council.
RJC can’t polish the image of gold and diamonds while keeping worker and community representatives off the table,
said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union in Geneva.
Having the industry set its own standards and certify compliance is rather like having the fox guard the henhouse. How can the public have faith in such a process?
In the wake of campaigns targeting dirty gold and conflict diamonds, and media exposés of the true environmental and social costs of these minerals, jewelry companies recognized that their brands and reputations were at risk. In response a coalition of jewelry trade associations, retailers, and their suppliers, including mining companies, formed the Responsible Jewellery Council.
If RJC is going to let its member companies claim “responsible business practices” for the corporation as a whole then all their operations should adhere to RJC standards,
said Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers in Canada.
Companies like Rio Tinto can’t be RJC-certified as a whole, while remaining a principal investor in mines like Grasberg in Indonesia that don’t meet RJC standards.
The Steelworkers represent workers at several Rio Tinto operations in the U.S. and Canada. In 2012, Rio Tinto locked out 780 Steelworker members in Canada for six months.
The RJC system is riddled with loopholes relating to membership, auditing, and accountability, allowing, for example, member companies as a whole to be certified as RJC compliant even when some of their gold, platinum and diamond-producing facilities -- or projects they are invested in -- are excluded from RJC audits. The system lacks transparency. Auditors’ reports are not made public, and equally troubling, the RJC itself doesn’t receive evidence or detailed auditors’ reports about operations that it certifies.
Several RJC standards are weak and violate widely accepted social and environmental principles. Under the RJC Code, mining companies can operate in conflict zones, fail to protect workers’ rights to join unions, and allow children as young as 14 to work. It also fails to place limits on water and air pollution and allows toxic waste disposal into lakes and ocean environments.
Communities living near mines are fighting to protect their health, livelihoods, social and cultural values that are threatened by mining,
said Catherine Coumans of MiningWatch Canada.
Their efforts are undermined by the RJC system that certifies the continuation of the status quo,
she added.
The RJC system does not drive the fundamental change that is needed.
The report compares RJC’s flaws to that of industry-defined and controlled certification systems in other sectors, such as the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), which has come under heavy criticism from green groups. In contrast, the Forest Stewardship Council, which embraces multi-stakeholder governance and strong standards, is widely considered a more robust and credible system for certifying sustainable wood products.
Without significant improvements, the RJC system risks tarnishing, rather than burnishing, the reputations of its member companies,
added Payal Sampat of Earthworks.
Comment
Call for applications - Masculinities, Leadership & Gender Justice Training Course
Sonker Gender Justice, 22 May 2013
Sonke Gender Justice Network, the MenEngage Africa Network and the Women’s Health Research Unit at the University of Cape Town are proud to host the second MenEngage Africa Training Initiative course: ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’, to be held from 16-26 September 2013 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. This follows the highly successful pilot course that took place in August 2012.
To apply for this training course, complete the online application at: www.menengage.org/mati2013application. For further information, please go to www.mengage.org/mati2013course or refer to the attached document.
About the course
‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’ is a short, intensive, ten-day residential course which seeks to expand the skills and knowledge of women and men in the Sub-Saharan Africa region to scale up work on engaging men and boys in gender equality, and build a network of leaders and gender justice advocates. In so doing, it aims to strengthen existing work on the greater involvement of men and boys in the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS, fatherhood, LGBTI rights and other issues pertaining to gender equality.
The course will incorporate a mix of thematic and skills-building sessions - covering both theoretical and practical components - as well as a site visit and daily opportunity for reflection. Thematic sessions will address the topics mentioned above, while the skills building sessions will specifically address leadership (including youth leadership), organisational development, research methods, advocacy, resource mobilisation and monitoring and evaluation.
As part of the training, participants are expected to submit a ‘Project for Change’ proposal, which will be refined during the course and, most importantly, implemented within their respective organisations once the course is completed. The Project for Change is a project or programme that is applicable to engaging men for gender equality. It can focus on sexual and gender based violence, HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health or, LGBTI rights to name a few potential thematic areas. The project can be an existing one that needs to be expanded or strengthened, or a new initiative that must be implemented upon completion of the course. Through the implementation of the Project for Change, it is hoped that participants will be able to practically employ the additional skills and knowledge gained from this training.
To assist participants with the implementation of their Projects for Change, the course incorporates a six month Mentorship Programme. This mentorship component is a critical aspect of the training as it seeks to provide participants with ongoing support and guidance as they implement their projects at the conclusion of the training. Participants can elect their own mentor or have one appointed for them. Ultimately, certification for the MenEngage Africa Training Initiative (MATI) will be based on satisfactory implementation of the Project for Change and thorough engagement in the Mentorship Programme.
The organisers trust that this course will contribute to the strengthening of both individual and organisational capacities, and it is with great pleasure you are hereby invited to apply to attend.
Summary of the first course
From 20-30 August 2012, the first MenEngage Africa Training Initiative course ‘Masculinities, Leadership and Gender Justice in Sub-Saharan Africa’ took place at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. It brought together 23 participants (14 males and 9 females) from 13 African countries. Course content was delivered by global and regional experts and leaders in the fields of gender, human rights and social justice, for example, on topics such as ‘Why Engage Men?’ and ‘Gender, Culture, Tradition and Religion.’ Evaluations from the first course indicated that participants found the training very useful and it increased their knowledge and skills by 41 %. This is a positive outcome demonstrating that the modules on the course were effective in transferring knowledge and skills to participants on how to work with men and boys for gender equality.
Target Audience
The course is intended for gender activists, programme staff and project managers from women’s rights, children’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV and AIDS, and LGBTI organisations, youth leaders, government officials, UN Agency representatives, donors, academics and media advocates.
Who is eligible?
The ideal candidate will:
- Work in a field where they can influence gender justice and gender equality through their positions within non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), government, UN agencies, donors, academic institutions, faith based organisations, juridical systems or other relevant organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Have a minimum of 3-5 years work experience in gender, advocacy, human rights, social justice and/or sexual and reproductive health and rights issues
- Demonstrate commitment and interest in strategies and programmes aimed at engaging men for gender equality within Sub-Saharan Africa
- Have proven and demonstrable leadership experience/skills
- Have a basic understanding of gender issues, particularly around gender justice
- Demonstrate an understanding, commitment and willingness to be part of an intense ten day residential course
- Have an innovative proposal for a ‘Project for Change’, to be implemented on completion of the course
- Have the support of their organisation for both participation in the course and implementation of their Project for Change (where applicable)
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in international relations, human rights, health rights, gender or other relevant fields (practical experience will be taken into account in lieu of an educational background)
- Be fluent in English
- Have interest/experience in running training courses
Cost
There are no registration fees. Applicants are requested to cover all travel-related costs in full. Accommodation and course costs will be covered by the hosts.
A very limited number of scholarships to cover the full cost of participation are available. The hosts encourage ALL interested parties to apply.
Application Procedure
To apply, please go to http://www.menengage.org/mati2013application to fill out the on-line application form.
Applications are to be completed by no later than 31 May 2013. Once completed, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your application. Successful candidates will be notified by no later than 1 July 2013.
For further information, kindly contact Tanya Charles at ma...@menengage.org.
Acknowledgements
The course organisers wish to express sincere appreciation to the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA), the Oak Foundation and the UNFPA South Africa Office for their financial support in making his training course possible.
Particular thanks also to members of the MenEngage Africa Network, including those on the Advisory Committee, for their on-going commitment, input an collaboration.Announcements
Announcements
Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress
Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 21 May 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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NEHAWU vacancy a for Tshwane Regional Organizer
Location: Tshwane Region | Date: 16 May 2013 |
Job Title: | Organizer X 2 |
Province: | Gauteng Province |
Reporting to: | Regional Secretary |
Grade: | Grade B4 |
Main Purpose: To Effectively organize and represent workers |
Key Performance Areas:
§ To organize and recruit workers within the scope of the union;
§ To co-ordinate collective bargaining work of the union and lead negotiations in all companies and institutions where we bargain locally;
§ To build strong and vibrant branches, shop stewards committees and substructures capable of providing high quality service and representation to members, and attend meetings as necessary;
§ To assist in training and supporting shop stewards and office bearers;
§ To work with Paralegal Officer in building strong paralegal team within the region capable of representing members in disciplinary cases, conciliation and arbitration;
§ To represent members in grievance and disciplinary hearings where and when shop stewards and branch office bearers are unable to do so, and to refer cases to conciliation and arbitration;
§ To submit monthly reports and programs to the Regional Secretary and Phosec
The Person:
Individuals meeting the following criteria are to apply:
§ Matric or equivalent thereof
§ Experience of working in a trade union movement
§ Experience in Microsoft Office packages
§ Prepared to work flexible hours
§ Report writing skills
§ Drafting of Agreements
§ Organizing
§ Good Communication skills
§ Knowledge and interpretation of legislation
§ Valid Driver’s License
Remuneration:
Membership of Nehawu Provident Fund
Medical Aid
Housing Subsidy subject to completion of the qualifying period
Membership of the NEHAWU Group Schemes
13th Cheque; and
Salary is based on the Nehawu salary grading system.
Applications:
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Regional Organiser position. Applications must be accompanied by a C.V., list of at least two references and copy of qualifications must be addressed to:
The Provincial Secretary
Provincial Office
P.O. Box 7394
Johannesburg
2000
Fax to : (011) 333 1696
Email to : gpadmin...@nehawu.org.za
Closing Date:
Closing date for applications is 30 May 2013
No late applications will be accepted
________________
NEHAWU Vacancy for a Vuyani Mabaxa Regional [Jhb] Organizer
Location: Vuyani Mabaxa (Greater JHB) Region | Date: 16 May 2013 |
Job Title: | Organizer |
Province: | Gauteng Province |
Reporting to: | Regional Secretary |
Grade: | Grade B4 |
Main Purpose: To Effectively organize and represent workers |
Key Performance Areas:
§ To organize and recruit workers within the scope of the union;
§ To co-ordinate collective bargaining work of the union and lead negotiations in all companies and institutions where we bargain locally;
§ To build strong and vibrant branches, shop stewards committees and substructures capable of providing high quality service and representation to members, and attend meetings as necessary;
§ To assist in training and supporting shop stewards and office bearers;
§ To work with Paralegal Officer in building strong paralegal team within the region capable of representing members in disciplinary cases, conciliation and arbitration;
§ To represent members in grievance and disciplinary hearings where and when shop stewards and branch office bearers are unable to do so, and to refer cases to conciliation and arbitration;
§ To submit monthly reports and programs to the Regional Secretary and Phosec
The Person:
Individuals meeting the following criteria are to apply:
§ Matric or equivalent thereof
§ Experience of working in a trade union movement
§ Experience in Microsoft Office packages
§ Prepared to work flexible hours
§ Report writing skills
§ Drafting of Agreements
§ Organizing
§ Good Communication skills
§ Knowledge and interpretation of legislation
§ Valid Driver’s License
Remuneration:
Membership of Nehawu Provident Fund
Medical Aid
Housing Subsidy subject to completion of the qualifying period
Membership of the NEHAWU Group Schemes
13th Cheque; and
Salary is based on the Nehawu salary grading system.
Applications:
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Regional Organiser position.
Applications must be accompanied by a C.V., list of at least two references and copy of qualifications must be addressed to:
The Provincial Secretary
Provincial Office
P.O. Box 7394
Johannesburg
2000
Fax to : (011) 333 1696
Email to : gpadmin...@nehawu.org.za
Closing Date:
Closing date for applications is 30 May 2013
No late applications will be accepted
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Africa Day & District Political Schools Launch Supported by Limpopo Arts And Culture Association [LACA] on the 25th May 2013
Louisa Nxumalo, COSATU Limpopo Educator/Organizer, 22 May 2013
Programme
Prgoramme Director : Prov. Deputy Chair Cde Rangers Molapo
Opening : 10H00
Item by: Limpopo Arts & Culture Association : 10H00-10H30
Opening Address by Provincial Chairperson : 10H30 -10H45
Cde Essob Mokgonyana
Acknowledgement of Guests by : 10H45 – 11H00
Provincial Treasurer Cde Annah Makgoba
The Role Of LACA in the Province by : The Managing : 11H00-11H30
Director James Mabela
Item by LACA : 11H30-12H00
Presentation on Africa in History by Cde Rudolph Phala : 12H00-13H00
Presentation on Political Challenges in Swaziland
and Zimbabwe by International Relations Secretary : 13H00-14H00
Cde Bongani Masuku
LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH : 14H00-14H45 |
Launch of District Political Schools By Education Secretary
Cde Lazola Ndamase : 15H00-15H30
COSATU Campaigns by Provincial Secretary Cde Dan Sebabi : 15H30-16H00
Entertainment by LACA : 16H00-21H00
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Chris Hani Institute & City Press Public Debate Invitation!
Dear Comrades,
We invite you to a Debate.
Engaging the National Development Plan: Old wine in new bottles?
Jeremy Cronin, Deputy General Secretary, SACP
and
Bobby Godsell, National Planning Commissioner
Moderator: Devan Pillay, Wits University
Date: 24 May 2013
Time: 15h00
Venue: 2nd Floor, Cosatu House, 110 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein
RSVP: pris...@chi.org.za or 082 574 2315; Tel: (011) 339 3040 Fax (011) 339 3041
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The South African Medical Association Vacancy for IR Advisor
IR Advisor Post
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is seeking to appoint an Industrial Relations Advisor in the Public Sector Division;
Job Purpose: To provide consulting services, representation, support and advice on complex labour and employment related matters to members of SAMA within the assigned provinces.
Job Responsibilities:
Operations
· To provide expert advice and support to members on labour law and labour disputes on a daily basis.
· To represent SAMA members at grievance process level, disciplinary hearing, conciliation, arbitration and designated labour court proceedings to ensure adherence to fair labour practice and overall integrity.
· Draft and process all legal correspondence in prosecuting disputes on behalf of members in the dispute resolution forums and in particular at the labour court level
· Ensure that favourable outcomes for members are implemented fully by the employer as per the agreements.
Research & Development
· To keep abreast of current legal trends and labour law and ensure that effective research is conducted on precedents to ensure that accurate advice, representation and negotiation can be done on behalf of the SAMA members.
Reporting
· Monitor current trends in the public health service and proactively advise members of any changes through publications of IR articles in the SAMA insider.
· Ensure that all IR enquiries and disputes are correctly captured onto the case management system thereby ensuring that all cases are managed effectively and efficiently.
General
· Work together with colleagues to ensure that the best possible service is provided to SAMA’s members at all times.
· Maintains records, prepares reports and composes correspondence relative to the daily work of an IR Advisor.
· Assist when required the Organising and Bargaining Unit with negotiations on conditions of service for the public sector member by representing SAMA members at required bargaining structures.
Job Requirements:
• 3 year B degree in HRM / Labour Relations or National Diploma in Labour Law
• 3-5 years experience in a similar role
• 2-3 years experience in the public healthcare sector is desirable
• Extensive knowledge of Labour Laws such as LRA, BCEA, OHSA, PSA, EEA, etc.
• Knowledge of Government Regulations and Policies
• Knowledge of Public Service Collecting agreements
• Understanding of Collective Bargaining and Union Environment
• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and procedures of collective bargaining
• Knowledge of rules and standards of conduct in the public sectors.
• LLB degree is desirable
• IRASA Membership is desirable
Term: Permanent
To apply: submit a covering letter and a detailed CV to Odessa Sifora
Email: ode...@samedical.org
Closing date: 24 May 2013
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The South African Medical Association Organising and Bargaining Officer Vacancy
Organising and Bargaining Officer Post
The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is seeking to appoint a Organising and Bargaining Officer in the Public Sector Division
Job Purpose:
To represent SAMA and its members at collective bargaining forums and manage collective bargaining agreements, disputes and submissions on behalf of the Trade Union. Ensure that all SAMA representatives at the relevant Trade union subcommittees and Branches market and recruit new members, identify issues and support all Trade Union initiatives across the country.
Job Responsibilities
Project Management
· To coordinate designated projects relating to the organising and collective bargaining function, including the Public service bargaining Councils, provincial chambers and other committees
· Assist in the implementation of the key objectives as directed by the relevant trade union committees or subcommittees or as required by the external market and collective bargaining arenas.
· Coordinate the setting up of the trade union structures and collective bargaining functions
· In conjunction with the Unit Manager and other internal stakeholders, coordinate and support all efforts relating to industrial action and ensure that SAMA’s image is upheld at all times.
Relationship Management
· Attend designed meetings relating to the Trade Union function including COSATU structures, Public service Bargaining structures and committees as directed by the Unit Manager and ensure accurate representation of SAMA.
· Provide feedback to all internal stakeholders after meetings to ensure effective knowledge sharing and generation of actions to address current concerns, trends or opportunities.
· Build and maintain effective working relationships with external key stakeholders to ensure that SAMA is at the forefront of negotiations and latest news and trends in the Collective Bargaining arena.
Marketing
· In conjunction with the unit Manager and other internal stakeholders like the Marketing Department, assist in the development of a targeted recruitment drive to attract potential non members to grow the SAMA Trade Union membership.
· Ensure ongoing running of campaigns to recruit new members for the Trade Union and SAMA
Operations
· Ensure that all collective bargaining demands from members are consolidated, researched and submitted for negotiations.
· Assist the Unit Manger in drafting collective agreements, policies and procedures relating to this function and ensure they are submitted timeously and where required implemented effectively.
· Assist in the research and monitoring of legislation and case law relevant to this function to ensure that SAMA is consistently proactive and market leaders in terms of policy development and procedures relating to the Collective Bargaining Division and functionality.
Job Requirements:
• Diploma in Labour Relations/Law
• Postgraduate Qualification in Labour Relations/Law is desirable
• 2-5 years collective bargaining experience
• 1-3 years drafting submissions for consideration
• Knowledge of Collective bargaining procedures
• Knowledge of all legislation relating to the healthcare industry and labour(LRA,EEA,BCEA,NHA,OHSA
etc)
• Advanced negotiating skills
• Computer Skills(MS Office)
• Excellent Communication skills(verbal and report writing)
• Conflict Resolution
• Presentation skills
• Persuading an influencing skills
Term: Permanent
To apply: submit a covering letter and a detailed CV to Odessa Sifora
Email: ode...@samedical.org
Closing date: 24 May 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
