Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 9 June 2022
Norman Mampane
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#2022YearofWorkersParliament #COSATU distances itself from the national shutdown scheduled to take place tomorrow, 10 June 2022. Workers are discouraged to participate in unprotected strike action which may put their jobs in jeopardy #YouthMonth #InternalDemocracy #WorkerControl #EndChildLabour #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
Thursday, 9 June 2022
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
All workers urged to take Covid19 vaccine jabs!
Organize at every workplace and demand Personal Protective Equipment Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NUM is disappointed with ESKOM KwaZulu-Natal snail's pace in dealing with the electricity crisis in the townships surrounding the Pietermaritzburg Area
- South Africa
- COSATU statement on the latest GDP numbers
- COSATU condemns government's failure to pay millions of SRD grant recipients their money since April
- SACTWU concludes historic tripartite framework agreement in support of flood victims
- COSATU welcomes Supreme Court of Appeal judgement upholding SARS' confiscation of illegal imports
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- SACP conveys a message of condolences on the death of Comrade Amos Mbulaheni Mbedzi
- WFTU Condolences Letter to the RMT on the passing of Joe Kirby
Ø Guatemala must respect freedom of association
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NUM is disappointed with ESKOM KwaZulu-Natal snail's pace in dealing with the electricity crisis in the townships surrounding the Pietermaritzburg Area
Siyabonga Ngwenya, NUM KwaZulu-Natal Energy Sector Full-time shop steward, 09 June 2022
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in KwaZulu-Natal is dissatisfied and disappointed by the snail's pace by Eskom in resolving the community electricity problems. The community from the areas around Pietermaritzburg have on the 8th of June 2022 gathered and blocked all access points to the Eskom Mkhondeni and Edendale CNC in KwaZulu-Natal.
"The community members are getting fed up by the excuses made by Eskom to them. NUM is a majority union in Eskom KwaZulu-Natal and its members were trapped inside and the community was hostile. Eskom's response to NUM is that there are illegal connections and that the load reduction is deployed in these communities which are the main frustration to the community members," said Siyabonga Ngwenya Kwazulu-Natal Full-time Shop steward.
"We call upon Eskom in KwaZulu-Natal to seize putting the lives of our members at risk by deploying this load reduction tactic to these hostile communities around KwaZulu-Natal. The load reduction tactic is inhumane to our communities, in the current state of the province which is dealing with floods and other ills due to high unemployment and the COVID-19 negative impacts. This provokes the communities in KwaZulu-Natal to target our members," Ngwenya added.
The NUM has noted that it is not the first time the communities of Pietermaritzburg come to protest. It has become their regular exercise. We do not want to hear that there were any casualties in those protests.
We will hold Eskom KwaZulu-Natal, led by General Manager Agnes Mlambo, solely accountable if anything happens.
Already as NUM, we hold the KwaZulu-Natal Operating Unit accountable for the Kidnapped members in those Eskom sites.
South Africa
COSATU statement on the latest GDP numbers
Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu National Spokesperson, 09 June 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has noted the latest GDP growth figures by Stats SA, showing the economy has grown by 1.9% in the last quarter. The GDP recovery to pre-pandemic levels, the creation of 370 000 new jobs and the decrease in unemployment from the real unemployment of 46.2% to 45.5% is welcome but is no reason for celebration.
A GDP growth rate of 1.9% is not enough to ensure a meaningful decrease in the unemployment and keep up with the millions of new labour market entrants each year.
This can be attributed to the removal of restrictions including government’s decision to invoke the disaster management act that removed all restrictions that were put in place to stem the tide of COVID-19 infections.
The Federation hopes the government can start promoting investment in rural areas and the townships economy because economies are made up of people. There is a need to reduce the red-tape and improve co-ordination between government agencies and departments that are supposed to help SMMEs.
The government also needs offer tax breaks and incentives to small businesses to encourage new business development. An increase in the number of start-up businesses will help with unemployment and tax revenue
Government should protect the economy by introducing tougher exchange controls to stop money being taken illegally and giving tax incentives to encourage investors to keep revenue in the country. SMMEs are expected to function as a driving force in South Africa’s social and economic stability, however, for this to happen and to unlock the full potential of the economy as a whole.
It is clear that there is much work that needs to be done on the part of big business, government and SMMEs themselves.
In addition to targeting employment, the reserve bank should align its policy to industrial development, introduce foreign exchange controls, and impose quantitative controls on commercial banks to ensure that a quarter of their loans go to priority sectors that drive the growth path and create jobs on a larger scale.
Issued by COSATU
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COSATU condemns government's failure to pay millions of SRD grant recipients their money since April
Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu National Spokesperson, 09 June 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) condemns government's failure to pay millions of SRD grant recipients their payments since the month of April. This must be fixed now, and recipients need to be paid what they are owed, including arrears.
It is completely unacceptable that SRD grants have not been paid out to recipients for the last two months (April and May). This is plunging the 10 million SRD Grant recipients into absolute poverty and despair.
It is callous of the Department of Social Development, Treasury and SASSA to have allowed for this to happen. The administrative chaos and bureaucracy that is causing the failure to put the necessary verification and payment systems in place is scandalous.
This means that government has repudiated its public undertaking that people will be paid their SRD Grants timeously. The absence of public communications and explanations to recipients shows a complete lack of empathy and urgency.
The government needs to finalise the signing of agreements with banks to facilitate these payments. Government must reinstate the Post Office as an outlet to pay the SRD Grants as it has wide footprint in many rural areas and townships; where recipients live and avoid the need for recipients to spend the money, they do not have travelling to get their little stipends.
It is the role of government to ensure that there is adequate social protection and security nets to ensure that millions who receive SRD grants and depend upon them are not left destitute. The delays are inhumane and should not continue to happen.
It is impossible to envision a working social compact with an administration that is infamous for not to honouring its commitments.
If it’s not the payment of SRD grants to millions, it’s non-payment of paying wage agreements.
Providing meaningful and timeous relief to the poor and unemployed is a key pillar for a progressive social compact.
Issued by COSATU.
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SACTWU concludes historic tripartite framework agreement in support of flood victims
André Kriel, SACTWU GENERAL SECRETARY, 09 June 2022
The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has concluded a ground-breaking tripartite Framework Agreement which may result in the free emergency donation and distribution of significant amounts of clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) products, previously seized at ports of entry by the South African Revenue Services (SARS) for customs contraventions, to victims of the recent floods in our country's KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West provinces.
This first-ever Framework Agreement of its kind was concluded in mid-May 2022.
Practical implementation commenced last week with the pilot distribution of 1600 blankets to flood victims at shelters in eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal.
This Framework Agreement was concluded mostly between signatories of the Retail, Clothing, Textile, Footwear & Leather (R-CTFL) Masterplan. Signatories include SACTWU, clothing retail signatories to the Masterplan, the South African Apparel Association (SAAA), the Apparel & Textiles Association of South Africa (ATASA), the Apparel Manufacturers of South Africa (AMSA), the Textile Federation of South Africa (TEXFED), the South African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC), the National Union of Leather & Allied Workers (NULAW), the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic) and SARS.
The clothing retailer signatories are the National Clothing Retail Federation (NCRF), representing Mr Price Group (MRPG), the Foschini Group (TFG), Truworths, Woolworths, Pick ‘n Pay, Cotton On, Cape Union Mart and Queenspark. Additional retailer signatories include Pepkor, Superbalist and Retailability.
In terms of the main provisions of this Framework Agreement, SARS-confiscated CTFL products will be released and distributed to flood victims in a tightly controlled manner.
The Framework Agreement further provides for the following:
• the need to mitigate possible market disruptions, corruption and threat to jobs that will undermine local manufacturing if appropriate steps and adequate care are not instituted in the rollout of this emergency donation; and
• a record of the disbursements of all goods to victims will be kept and there will be full transparency of all the disbursements.
A Governance Task Team, which includes SACTWU, will oversee practical implementation of this innovative Framework Agreement.
The terms of reference of this Governance Task Team are to “… approve the goods to be released, the quantum to be released, the priority releases… as well clear re-sale prevention measures”.
SACTWU has initiated and concluded this new Framework Agreement as a determined effort to contribute concretely towards the alleviation of severe hardships which flood victims are experiencing, while simultaneously not undermining our members' jobs.
Issued by
SACTWU
GENERAL SECRETARY
If further information or comment is required, kindly contact SACTWU's National Industrial Policy Officer, Mr Etienne Vlok, on office number 0214474570
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COSATU
welcomes Supreme Court of Appeal judgement upholding SARS' confiscation of illegal imports
Matthew
Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 09 June 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the Supreme Court of Appeal’s upholding SARS’ confiscation of 19 containers of deliberately under valued imports. This is a welcome boost in the fight against illegal dumping of billions of Rands worth of goods into South Africa’s economy.
COSATU applauds the work done by SARS and in particular its employees, who are beginning to turn the tide in tackling illegal dumping and customs evasion. The Federations salutes the interventions by our Affiliate, SACTWU in combating and in collaborating with SARS to deal with illegal dumping. This is a progressive social compact in action.
Illegal and under invoiced imports are a threat to thousands of local clothing, textile and other manufacturing and agricultural jobs and companies. They deny the state customs duties and billions of Rands of revenue that it's legally entitled to and obligated to collect.
This denies nurses, teachers, police officers and even SARS employees their right to a living wage and to see their salaries and families protected from inflation. It denies millions of South Africans and the economy quality public services they depend upon.
It undermines government’s industrial development programmes and the billions spent developing our local manufacturing and other industries.
Underinvoicing, e.g. claiming that an import is valued at a fraction of its real value is corruption, fraud and theft. Often these are also imports subsidised by their own governments. Government needs to also deal with South African companies who knowingly buy and sell such illegal imports at the expense of local jobs and genuine businesses.
COSATU urges government to invest more in SARS to employ additional badly needed staff, to pay its employees who have done excellent work in rebuilding SARS a living wage, to further modernise its systems and to ramp up customs enforcement from its still woefully inadequate levels. SARS needs to intensify its efforts to enforce customs collection and where necessary to confiscate illegal imports, and to fine and prosecute offenders.
This is key to saving and creating badly needed local jobs, protecting legitimate businesses, growing the economy, stabilising the fiscus and ensuring the state can fulfill its constitutional and developmental mandate.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
SSN Says Goodbye to Comrade Amos Mbedzi
SSN STATEMENT: 7 June, 2022
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) wishes to extend its condolences to the Mbedzi family, the South African Communist Party, African National Congres, COSATU, PUDEMO and the Swaziland Mass Democratic Movement for the untimely passing of our dear Comrade Amos Mosiah Mbedzi.
Comrade Mbedzi was the footprint beneath our the feet that are walking towards the Freedom of eSwatini and her people. As SSN saying good bye to Comrade Mbedzi is like burying part of our souls. Saying good bye to Comrade Mbedzi feels like falling into a deep empty hole, lost into endless solitude of realising that we have to get through the worst storms with our spiritual beacon shuttered into many pieces. This is because after saying good bye to you Comrade Mbedzi every other word sounds empty. Ahead of us the future now looks painful, hostile and uncertain. And we ask ourselves: Why were you released just before your departure into a South African hospital? Why the devil has conspired against us? And as long as we live, if you can call it living with a broken heart, we shall get into the bottom of this our dear brother that we promise you.
Comrade Mbedzi was a freedom fighter for most of his adult life, after having joined Umkhonto we Sizwe at a very young age. His passion for freedom did not take a rest with the advent of democracy, and political freedom in South Africa. Given the vital role and the invaluable contribution of the Swazi People, in the course of our freedom and as an internationalist he believed that his own freedom was not complete if there were still people on the other side of the South African border who lived under an oppressive government devoid of basic human rights.
Comrade Mbedzi was so many different things. A truly great tracker and a marksman. He was a lot more than a brother.
There is one thing we can say he was not. That is afraid. He was not afraid. Never afraid of consequences or an impossible task or any kind of danger. No matter how hard or unfair life was to him. He loved life back. Embraced it without reservations, regrets or remorse. That is rare. We with more people were not afraid like him. And hope it will be some time before all our memories of him start to fade.
It was this belief which influenced him to join the Swaziland Solidarity Network in the nineties. He found a network of cadres and internationalists within the SSN and together they gave practical support to the struggle against the King Mswati Dictatorship. This is what led him to being unjustly imprisoned after witnessing his comrades tragically killed by an explosive device in September 2008.
Being the only surviving witness to that tragic event, Mbedzi was made a scapegoat by the state. After serving thirteen years of his eighty-five-year sentence, he was released in March this year. It became clear that his health, long neglected by the Swazi authorities, had dilapidated to the point whereby his demise was imminent.
Sadly, Mbedzi barely lasted three months out of king Mswati’s dungeons as he eventually succumbed to illness.
Our network is deeply saddened by his passing. However, we will forever be honoured to have been graced by his revolutionary spirit which has planted seeds amongst the Swazi population. We encourage all Swazis living under the yoke of oppression to invoke his spirit to embolden and enlighten them to finish their task of self-liberation.
Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN)
Contact
Lucky Lukhele spokesperson
0814585658 or 0725024141
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WFTU Condolences Letter to the RMT on the passing of Joe Kirby
08 Jun 2022
Dear NEC Comrades of the RMT,
The World Federation of Trade Unions, representing 110 million affiliates in 135 countries, expresses its deepest sadness at the death of Joe Kirby, member of the National Executive Committee of the RMT.
We extend our most sincere condolences to his family and comrades.
The best way to pay tribute to the memory of this great worker activist is to continue his fight for the defense of workers:
Honor to Joe and let’s continue his fights, in Great Britain and around the world!
Fraternally,
The WFTU Secretariat
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WFTU Solidarity Statement with the RMT
06 Jun 2022
The World Federation of Trade Unions, representing 110 million members in 130 countries, is expressing its support for the strike action of the British train cleaners of the Churchill company, after the call of the powerful British Union RMT.
In Britain as in the rest of the world, the health crisis we have gone through has demonstrated the social importance of cleaning workers; however these workers are still in poorly paid jobs and despised by employers, who deny them collective guarantees as well as high level and worthy salaries!
The WFTU supports and encourages your struggle to defend your rights and conquer new ones: Justice for cleaners!!!
WFTU Central Offices
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Guatemala must respect freedom of association
9 June, 2022
IndustriALL representatives presented to the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) the violations of the right to freedom of association faced by affiliates in Guatemala.
In the garment sector, an important part of Guatemala’s economy, freedom of association is virtually impossible and there is an immense pressure on unions. Workers are often intimidated, threatened, blacklisted and even fired, and fear that employers will retaliate if they join a union.
The government of Guatemala was invited to submit information to the CAS on individual cases concerning the application of Convention 87 on freedom of association and the protection of the right to organize.
On 6 June, IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan, raised on behalf of the workers’ delegation, the violations against IndustriALL's Guatemalan affiliate FESTRAS (Federación Sindical de Trabajadores de la Alimentación, Agroindustria y Similar de Guatemala).
Özkan explained that workers in Guatemala face threats and intimidation that prevent the full exercise of Convention 87. He noted that FESTRAS informed IndustriALL that one of its affiliates, the SITRAWINNERS union, faces violations of Conventions 87 and 98.
Winners, owned by South Korean company SA-E SAE Group, does not respect the right to freedom of association. A fortnight ago, the company shut down its operations and dismissed a number of workers in an attempt to prevent union membership. The former Winners employees tried to get new jobs, but claim they were not hired due to the conflict at the previous employer.
According to the workers, Winners management use physical and psychological violence, intimidation and threats against the union. The local union general secretary was harassed and received death threats, and was forced to move to a safe place.
In his statement, Kemal Özkan, said:
"The attacks against trade union leaders happen every day, as they defend workers’ rights.
“We therefore urge the government of Guatemala to take immediate steps to create an environment where workers can exercise their fundamental right to freedom of association, with clear timelines and in compliance with Convention 87".
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Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
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 Direct line: 010 219-1348
Norman Mampane
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#2022YearofWorkersParliament COSATU is not aware of a shutdown, nor has it been engaged to support it, neither have workers or unions mandated it to participate in one. |
|
#YouthMonth #InternalDemocracy #WorkerControl #EndChildLabour #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
Thursday, 9 June 2022
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
All workers urged to take Covid19 vaccine jabs!
Organize at every workplace and demand Personal Protective Equipment Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU discourages its members from participating in an unprotected national shutdown tomorrow
- South Africa
- COSATU discourages its members from participating in an unprotected national shutdown tomorrow
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
Ø Caterpillar workers on strike in Northern Ireland
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU discourages its members from participating in an unprotected national shutdown tomorrow
Sizwe Pamla, Cosatu National Spokesperson, 09 June 2021
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has noted reports about a possible National Shutdown planed for tomorrow, 10 June 2022. These reports have mentioned COSATU as one of the participants of this stay away.
The Federation and its affiliated unions will not be part of that stay way. We also discourage our members from joining this stayaway because it is an unprotected action that can result in their dismissal from work. For any protected strike to take place, a Section 77 certificate needs to be applied for and issued by Nedlac as per the Labour Relations Act.
COSATU is not aware of a shutdown, nor has it been engaged to support it, neither have workers or unions mandated it to participate in one.
The Federation is busy trying to use dialogue to ensure that government take steps to stem the tide of unaffordable rise in fuel prices. These increases are bleeding workers’ meagre wages, making it difficult for businesses to hire workers and suffocating the economy.
We need government to extend the fuel price tax relief it has provided beyond July; it also needs to provide a more affordable tax regime for fuel.
There is an urgent need to deregulate the fuel price to allow competition, and the re-submission of the RAF and RABS Bills at Parliament to place the RAF on a more sustainable financial path and lessen the need for it be bailed out through fuel levy hikes.
Government needs to act swiftly to reopen all Metrorail lines to help 10 million commuters, and to ensure all Transnet freight lines are fully operational.
The fragmentation of transport services in the country continues to undermine access to affordable, safe and reliable public transport. The public transport system should be well coordinated and integrated. In our view, this is crucial for enhancing local economic development and eliminating the apartheid spatial challenges.
The government needs to invest more in public transport, and to begin plans to move cars and other vehicles from fuel to electric and hydro.
These are critical to lessening South Africa’s dependency on imported fuel and exposure to volatile international oil prices.
Issued by COSATU.
South Africa
International-Solidarity
Caterpillar workers on strike in Northern Ireland
9 June, 2022
Workers at Caterpillar sites in Northern Ireland have been on strike for nine weeks over decent pay. The US mechanical engineering giant is reporting huge profits while the workers, creating the very foundation for this wealth, have to choose between heating or eating in the midst of the current cost of living crisis.
The current increase of the cost of living in the United Kingdom stands at 11.1 per cent and is likely to increase even further. Caterpillar’s offer of salary increases of 2.6 per cent in 2021 and 6.4 per cent this year, are below inflation and was overwhelmingly rejected by the union members. The company has also attempted to tie a basic pay increase to the introduction of compulsory overtime.
IndustriALL affiliate, Unite the Union, represents the Caterpillar workers in Northern Ireland. Senior union representative Paula Hurst says:
“Caterpillar want to drive down wages and increase working hours, this model of compulsory overtime is on the back of making 700 workers redundant, including 400 hourly paid skilled workers in 2020/2021. Unite rejects any attempt to tie a basic pay increase to the introduction of compulsory overtime. With the cost of living rising and only likely to rise further, workers are striking to win a fair pay increase.”
Unite has lodged a complaint with the Agency Inspectorate due to Caterpillar deploying union busting tactics by commissioning untrained scab labour from sites in the UK (office workers) and paying them a bounty.
The company management have refused to sit down with the union to resolve the dispute, despite requests from Unite and the Labour Relations Agency (ACAS).
Says Matthias Hartwich, IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering:
“We have seen it before in other
countries – Caterpillar is again failing to respect its workers. It is always the same; management makes decisions without consulting the workers.
“We urge the Caterpillar management to come back to the table and enter into real negotiations over wages and working conditions. Collective bargaining in good faith is different from making one-sided announcements. It means sitting down with respect for each
other and finding a compromise that helps workers, their families as well as the company.”
_________________________________________________
Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
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 Direct line: 010 219-1348