Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 23 August 2021
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #UnionizeNow |
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
Monday,
23 August 2021
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the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle
for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
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Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU welcomes implementation of its 7.5% wage increase in the leather tanning sector
o South Africa
- Nedlac Labour School Statement
- Statement of the ANC National Executive Committee on the conclusion of its candidate selection for local government elections, held virtually on 21-22 August 2021
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Unions sign off on text for worker rights at Bangkok airport but management must live up to promises
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACTWU welcomes implementation of its 7.5% wage increase in the leather tanning sector
André Kriel, SACTWU GENERAL SECRETARY, 23 August 2021
The National Co-Ordinating Committee (NCC) of the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU), which met last week, has welcomed developments with our trade union's collective bargaining efforts, albeit under very difficult COVID-19 conditions.
Amongst these efforts is a 7.5% wage increase which we had negotiated for our members in the leather tanning sector.
This wage increase was due from 1 July 2021, and a recently conducted SACTWU audit about its implementation confirms that all tanning sector employers have honoured this collective agreement.
It was the last tranche due, of a 3-year collective agreement which we had negotiated under the auspices of the leather bargaining council.
We are pleased with this development, especially in an environment with employers' unilaterally renegaging on collective agreements having become an increasing new recent trend.
SACTWU will under no circumstances tolerate such reactionary tendencies in our industry.
We commend the South African Tanning Employers' Association (SATEO), with whom we had concluded this leather tanning sector wage agreement, for having acted honorably by ensuring that its member companies actually implement the exact wage increases which we had agreed to during our collective bargaining proceses.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequential lockdowns have been extremely hard on workers.
We hope that this 7.5% wage increase (of which implementation became effective on 1st July this year) will bring welcome relief for our leather tanning sector members and their families.
Issued
By André Kriel
SACTWU
GENERAL SECRETARY
If further comment is required, kindly contact SACTWU's Tanning Sector National Co-ordinator, Mr Glen Leshabane, on cell number 082 633 1104
South Africa
Nedlac Labour School Statement
23 August 2021
Organised Labour represented by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), National Congress of Trade Unions (NACTU) and the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) held their mid-year Nedlac Organised Labour School to assess progress on the implementation of key policy interventions to spur economic growth, save and create jobs, and provide relief for the most impoverished.
Nedlac continues to remain the preeminent forum for social dialogue between government, labour, business and community. Labour will continue to defend the role of Nedlac and enhance its ability to provide bold and pragmatic solutions to the many socio-economic challenges facing workers, the economy and society at large.
Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan
Whilst appreciating some partial progress that has been made with regards to some ERRP commitments like the fight against corruption at Eskom and the recovery of the looted funds, we remain deeply concerned by the lack of urgency in implementing the majority of the ERRP’s targets. The President needs to convene an urgent leadership meeting with social partners at Nedlac to address these deeply worrying trends.
Organised Labour will continue to engage Eskom to ensure the full implementation of the Eskom Social Compact. We demand to see a firm Just Transition plan put in place to make sure workers do not lose jobs and communities are not recklessly abandoned, as various aging power stations and mines reach the end of their life span in the next few years.
We will redouble our efforts to drive local procurement campaigns across the economy, and we will be engaging with the National Treasury on the finalisation of the Public Procurement Bill.
Organised Labour is shocked by and rejects the false claims by the Department of Public Enterprises and Transnet that there has been consultation on the restructuring of Transnet at Nedlac.
The lack of consultation by government with Organised Labour on the proposed restructuring of Transnet is alarming and only serves to fuel our suspicions that the entity is being dismantled in order for it to be privatised.
This follows on the heels of the restructuring and partial sale of SAA where workers were not consulted beforehand. This will have a devastating impact on jobs. An urgent meeting with the Minister for Public Enterprises and the management of Transnet will be sought to resolve this crisis.
It is unacceptable that government continues to run away from Organised Labour’s proposal to ban political office bearers, their spouses, and children from doing business with the state.
This matter will now be escalated to the Presidency for intervention. South Africa cannot afford to continue the current arrangement where families of politicians are given preferential treatment when it comes to government tenders.
Cabinet must show the necessary moral courage and accept that political office bearers, their spouses and children must be legally banned from doing business with the state.
Social Relief Interventions
Progress on dispensing various relief measures to workers, communities, and businesses that suffered losses during the recent violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng is welcome.
More needs to be done and fast because workers are facing a desperate situation.
The delays in the Unemployment Insurance Fund are inexcusable and we intend to intervene to correct this bureaucratic mess. We expect that applications for the UIF relief will commence next week and that payments should follow shortly afterwards. We cannot afford any more delays.
Organised Labour welcomed the reinstatement of the Covid-19 Special Relief R350 Grant. It must now be made permanent and be used as a foundation for a basic income grant. It must be extended beyond March 2022, and adjusted in line with the food poverty level.
Government needs to provide for its extension and enhancement in the October Medium Term Budget Policy Statement.
Organised Labour will ramp up its engagements with community organisations, e.g. civics, Churches, Mosques, Taxi Associations, sports associations, traditional leaders etc. to help ensure that the measures to address social cohesion and the many socio-economic crises afflicting communities are actually dealt with to avoid a repeat of the widescale violence, looting and criminality that devastated KZN and Gauteng in July.
Vaccinations
Organised Labour is deeply concerned by the plunge in daily vaccination rates. We are working with government and business to help mobilise workers, and communities to vaccinate.
Government needs to ramp up its publicity campaign explaining why people need to vaccinate, and also establish mobile vaccine units that can go door to door in all communities.
Working with community stakeholders is necessary if we are to achieve the 67% population immunity level by December 2021.
Whilst encouraging all workers to vaccinate, unions are prepared to fight to ensure that employers do not victimise those who decide to opt out of vaccination.
Section 77 Right to Strike
Organised Labour rejects any attempts by employers who have unashamedly sought to collapse workers’ hard won sacrosanct Constitutional right to strike, picket and protest as provided for in Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act. Organised Labour will be tabling proposals at Nedlac to protect these rights and workers when they choose to exercise them.
Issued by COSATU, FEDUSA and NACTU.
COSATU General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali (082 563 6973)
FEDUSA General Secretary Riefdah Ajam (079 696 2625)
NACTU General Secretary Narius Moloto (082 924 5945)
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Statement of the ANC National Executive Committee on the conclusion of its candidate selection for local government elections, held virtually on 21-22 August 2021
23 AUGUST 2021
A massive exercise in democracy and renewal to select the best councillors to serve communities
An Extended National Executive Committee met on 21 – 22 August 2021 to approve the lists of ANC candidates for the local government elections currently scheduled to take place on 27 October 2021.
The Extended NEC, in which representatives of ANC provinces, Leagues, and Alliance partners the SACP and COSATU participated, took place ahead of the IEC deadline for the registration of candidates on 23 August 2021.
The work of the Extended NEC was presented to a special sitting of the NEC on 22 August 2021, as required by the ANC Constitution. The NEC ratified all candidate lists and also adopted the report of the Electoral Committee.
The most democratic and participatory process in the country
The ANC's councillor nomination process is the most democratic and participatory in the country. This approach gives concrete expression to the Freedom Charter's vision: "The people shall govern!” Part of the movement's renewal programme involves subjecting our processes to the will of the people. This participatory and inclusive process underscores the fact that the ANC plays a leadership role in society – far beyond its own membership. We are determined to ensure that all our public representatives are true custodians of the people's hopes and aspirations.
The ANC candidate selection processes took place under very unusual and difficult conditions. Over the past five months successive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic have necessitated restrictions on gatherings and movement. We commend the steadfast dedication and commitment of ANC and community members to participate in this important process under these trying conditions.
ANC Electoral Committee, chaired by comrade Kgalema Motlanthe, presided over the processes of candidate selection and reported to the extended NEC, as required by the candidate selection rules. The ANC Electoral Committee appointed Provincial List Committees (PLC) and the Regional Interviewing and Vetting Panels (RIVP) to assist in conducting the process.
The ANC placed community involvement at the centre of the selection of ward candidates. This will ensure that ANC candidates are people who the community feels confident will represent them in local government.
The ANC candidate selection process resulted in the nomination of close to 10,000 ward and proportional representative candidates. This was followed by rigorous screening and interviews by the Regional Interview and Vetting Panels and the Provincial List Committees. Candidates were then presented to Extended Provincial Executive Committees.
A critical component of the process was an assessment of the performance of various municipalities over the past five years.
Finally, names were submitted to the Extended NEC to ensure compliance with the procedures and criteria set in the rules for candidate selection.
With regard to the selection of mayoral candidates, regional and provincial structures of the ANC will nominate three names, and these candidates will be interviewed and screened, before the ANC will announce all its mayoral candidates.
Experience and skills, Gender equity, Youth participation, and Diversity
These ANC rules for candidate selection provide that candidates must be (a) people who are capable, experienced and skilled to ensure that the delivery of basic services and governance of municipalities are strengthened and revolutionised; and (b) representative of the diversity of South Africa’s people in respect of gender, age, race, as well as disability and sexual orientation, amongst others.
Despite the stringent requirement of gender equity, the persistence of patriarchal attitudes meant that the majority of ward councillors nominated are male. To adjust for this, more ANC women candidates form part of our proportional representation list.
The ANC has been very consistent in ensuring women’s participation in all the elections, playing a leading role in South Africa’s progress towards gender parity among political representatives across all the spheres of government. Unfortunately, the country’s progress in achieving gender parity in all representative institutions has also been held back by the other political parties, whose lists have consistently been patriarchal.
Young people aged 18-35 years in our country constitute an important catalyst for organisational and societal renewal, and the ANC lists include a significant proportion of young and dynamic candidates. The ANC alliance partners COSATU and SACP, and provincial civic structures, were also part of the processes, and have fielded dynamic and capable candidates on ANC lists.
In some areas, ANC structures are also fielding candidates living with disabilities, members from the LGBTQI community, as well as various other sectors of society. The ANC’s commitment to non-racialism is a core principle and we must ensure greater compliance with this principle in our organisational processes.
The ANC has committed to field a representative collective of candidates that will, once elected, tirelessly work to speed up the building of cohesive and safe communities, vibrant local economies, access to quality basic services and participatory, clean and developmental local government. To ensure we build an ever more capable municipal government, all councillors will undergo a systematic capacity building training programme that will build skills, appropriate political orientation and most importantly ethical values.
Managing Disputes
Channels for managing disputes are an integral part of the ANC candidate selection processes. Members or structures can, where necessary, formally raise grievances with the process. Various structures have dealt with appeals and disputes throughout the process, often under tight deadlines imposed by Covid-19 restrictions.
A number of members have highlighted their disputes at ANC offices, nationally and provincially. The Electoral Committee dispute resolution structures will continue to consider any serious disputes within the prescribed timeframes, even after the registration of ANC candidates on 23 August 2021. Where necessary, matters will be referred to the ANC disciplinary and other structures for action.
A dynamic local elections campaign
This innovative, comprehensive, and inclusive process was conducted under difficult circumstances during a pandemic. The lessons learned will improve the system even further to ensure the selection candidates that are best qualified to serve the people of South Africa.
The NEC once again wishes to express our deep gratitude to community members and ANC structures who have, with such enthusiasm and discipline, participated in the selection of ANC candidates. Our task now is to initiate a dynamic election campaign so we can emerge with municipal councils that act in the interest of communities in pursuit of economic growth and social development as well as effective and ethical governance.
The Extended NEC reaffirmed that the building of a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous South Africa, remains the primary mission and reason for the existence of the ANC.
END
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Enquiries:
Pule Mabe
National Spokesperson
071 623 4975
Dakota Legoete
Media Relations
072 718 5955
International
Jordan: Court declares education union leader innocent of spreading false news
trade union rights are human rights democracypublished 20 August 2021updated 20 August 2021
Education International welcomes the acquittal of Jordanian Teachers’ Association (JTA) Vice-President Dr. Nasser Al-Nawasra. The appeal court in Amman ruled that he was innocent of the misdemeanor of broadcasting false and exaggerated news undermining the prestige of the State.
On 11 July, the court also declared in the “videos case" that Al-Nawasra is not guilty of misuse of power and threatening to inflict harm.
Jordanian public prosecution had filed a complaint against the JTA leader following the publication of videos of him talking about matters related to the teachers’ union.
Government/union dialogue must be reestablished
Education International considers that this is a sign that Jordan’s public authorities are looking for appeasement and trying to resume dialogue with the union. It urges them to ensure JTA can quickly and adequately resume its work.
Ongoing harassment of teacher unionists
Earlier this year, Education International called on workers and unionists to urge the Jordanian authorities to immediately stop harassing the JTA leaders and threatening the union’s very existence. At least 18 JTA teacher unionists were arrested in Irbid, Jordan in February.
Education International appealed to member organisations and concerned citizens around the globe to sign the LabourStart petition requesting that teachers and education workers in Jordan be able to fully exercise their fundamental rights.
In October 2020, Education International condemned the banning of a JTA public press conference scheduled for 26 October. The ban was imposed by Jordan’s authorities, with security forces delivering an order from the Governor of Amman to prohibit the union’s press conference. The JTA press conference was called to discuss the situation of education in Jordan and the conditions being experienced by teachers.
Education International reiterates its full solidarity
with the JTA and the educators of Jordan.
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Unions sign off on text for worker rights at Bangkok airport but management must live up to promises
18 Aug 2021
Security workers must stay resolute and management must live up to its promises if basic rights are to be restored at Bangkok Airport said Erin van der Maas, ITF Airports Organising Programme Lead, speaking of recent progress at the Thai airport.
This week, 100 union members voted unanimously to approve their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) text. This will be presented to AVSEC, the company that runs airport security, as well as Airports of Thailand (AOT) which oversees security outsourcing. It will be the basis for a final deal restoring worker rights that were seriously infringed when airport security was outsourced to AVSEC in April last year.
“Following pressure from the unions, AVSEC signed a memorandum of understanding with local unions on 10 August,” said van der Maas. “However, it took five months from when the company verbally agreed to improve conditions before we got a formal document, so we’re not there yet. We need to keep focused and get the CBA signed by AVSEC as soon as possible.”
Workers were forced to sign new contracts with unreasonable conditions when Bangkok airport security was outsourced. These obliged them to work overtime if required and to work long hours without breaks for food, or to go to the toilet. The memorandum stipulates that workers are entitled to a one-hour lunch break and do not have to work more than eight hours a day.
The CBA will be the first for the newly formed AVSEC branch of the Wingspan Workers’ Union and Airport Workers of Thailand (WWU-AWT).
“It’s important that everyone in the Airport Alliance remains united,” said Butch Lamug, the ITF’s Regional Secretary for Asia Pacific. “Know that the ITF and its Airport Organising Programme stand with you now and in the future. The international labour community is keeping a watch on the actions of the airport authorities.”
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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