Taking COSATU Today Forward, 26 August 2021
Norman Mampane
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Taking COSATU Today Forward
‘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, 26 August 2021
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle
for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
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Fight against intransigence of employers who do not register workers with UIF at all workplaces!
Mobilize against #COVID19 infections Now!
We
shall overcome!
Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SAMWU welcomes the SALGBC’s decision to reject Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality’s exemption application
o South Africa
Ø ANC statement on industrial strike by its staff
- NEHAWU Northern Cape welcomes the arrest of the former acting HOD and Chief Financial Officer [CFO] of Health
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SAMWU welcomes the SALGBC’s decision to reject Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality’s exemption application
Thobani Mkhize, SAMWU Inkosi Langalibalele Local Secretary, 25August 2021
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) notes and welcomes the decision of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) to reject the Inkosi Langalibale Local Municipality’s application for exemption from the salary and wage collective agreement that was concluded in 2018.
The multi-year agreement made provisions that in July of 2020, workers in the municipality should receive a salary and wage increase of 6.25%. Instead of implementing the collective agreement in July last year, the employer rushed to the (SALGBC) seeking to be exempted from paying workers their salary increments in terms of Clause 11 of the agreement.
This reckless application by the employer has resulted in workers not receiving their salary increases since July 2021, while the cost of living continued to rise. The application itself was immoral in that it came at a time when many South Africans were losing their jobs and livelihoods as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision by the employer to deny workers their salary increases placed workers under more pressure as we know that on average, one municipal worker’s salary feeds about 4 households.
As SAMWU, we have always contended that the application by the employer to be exempted from the collective agreement was a direct attack on collective bargaining in the country and more especially in the local government sector. We therefore could not fold our arms and allow for a situations wherein collective bargaining is attacked under our watch.
The Inkosi Langalibale Local Municipality wanted to use workers as a scapegoat for the inefficiencies and maladministration at the institution which resulted in them not being in a position to honour the salary and wage agreement.
For over a year, workers at the institution had not received their salary increases because of the municipality’s own doings. We are, however pleased that the SALGBC has ruled that the municipality should pay workers their salary and wage increases from July 2020 until June 2021.
As salary and wage negotiations continue at national level, we will be keeping a closer look at the Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality that they do not play with the livelihoods of municipal workers by applying for yet another exemption on the new salary and wage collective agreement that will be concluded.
Issued by SAMWU Inkosi Langalibalele Local
South Africa
ANC statement on industrial strike by its staff
25 AUGUST 2021
The ANC management has received notice from ANC staff that as from tomorrow, 26 August 2021 they will go on strike in support of grievances submitted on 15 June 2021, including late payments of salaries.
As a result of this wildcat strike, ANC offices throughout the country will be closed as of tomorrow. The ANC management will continue to engage with staff representatives on their grievances, with a view to find a solution, so that we can resume normal operations.
END
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
Enquiries:
Pule Mabe
National Spokesperson
071 623 4975
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NEHAWU Northern Cape welcomes the arrest of the former acting HOD and Chief Financial Officer [CFO] of Health
Moleme Moleme, Northern Cape Provincial Secretary ,August 25, 2021
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union [NEHAWU] in the Northern Cape welcomes the arrest of the former acting head of the Health Department, Dr Dion Theys and Chief Financial Officer, Mosimanagape Daniel Gaborone for fraud and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act [PFMA].
The arrest of these two senior officials of the department affirms that the union has been correct in its call for investigations relating to Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] corruption in the department. As NEHAWU, we have been consistent in raising sharply our concerns about the mismanagement and looting of state resources and called on the provincial government decisively deal with corruption in the department.
As NEHAWU, we have ran dedicated campaign to root-out corruption and mismanagement of resources in the department and the arrest of the two officials confirms our campaign. What we find abhorrent in this matter is that the department failed to protect of our members and workers from COVID-19 by providing them with adequate PPEs yet officials of the department were looting resources that could have been utilised to protect workers from the pandemic.
The employer has treated us indifferently when we raised our ire against the poor supply of Personal Protective Equipment for our members and workers. Even when we highlighted the corruption and maladministration associated with PPEs, the employer never attempted to address our concerns.
The same former acting HOD was recently arrested for serious allegations relating to irregularities about awarding of student nursing accommodation contracts and was released on bail. The department failed to take a decisive decision against the former acting HOD but rather swept the matter under the carpet. As NEHAWU, we called on the department to suspend and charge the former acting HOD, but rather he was removed from the acting position and placed back to the Chief Director position without any consequences to this end. This further confirmed our view that the government is not serious about combating corruption and maladministration in the department.
Their arrest bares testimony to what we have continually raised with the employer about institutionalised corruption and maladministration at the department. The Department of Health must be consistent in applying discipline in the workplace irrespective of the position you occupy as we are all public servants.
Lastly, we call for the immediate suspension of the former action HOD and CFO, followed by an investigation. As NEHAWU, we will not stand idle whilst state resources and public money is pillaged while service delivery is compromised. We will continue to fight against corruption in the state.
END
For more information, please contact: Moleme Moleme (Northern Cape Provincial Secretary) at 053 832 6836 or 082 455 2521 or email: mol...@nehawu.org.za or Banzi Sebotse (Northern Cape Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 053 832 6836 or 063 685 1900 or email to Ba...@nehawu.org.za
International
USA: The WFTU stands by the side of the workers of NABISCO Company
25 Aug 2021
The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers in 133 countries around the world, conveys its solidarity to the workers of Nabisco Company in the U.S.A. who are on strike in five locations: NABISCO distribution center outside Atlanta, as well as in Portland, Ore., Aurora, Col., Richmond, Va. and Chicago, Ill.
Nabisco workers in all five locations join voices and demand from the Company to stop exporting their jobs to Mexico and to end its demands for contract concessions.
The world class-oriented trade union movement stands by the side of NABISCO workers who fight from Oregon and Colorado to Illinois, Virginia and Georgia against negative changes in their contracts and working conditions. We urge for the fulfillment of their just claims and the protection of their working rights.
The Secretariat
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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