COSATU Today, Friday 11 July 2008
Dominic Tweedie
|
|
5 |
|
Subscribe at:
Published by the Congress of South African Trade Unions
1 Leyds Street, Braamfontein
Tel. 011 339 4911 Fax. 086 603 9667
COSATU’s Spokesperson is: Patrick Craven
To receive media releases direct from COSATU, subscribe at:
|
|
- COSATU Today -
Our side of the story
Friday 11 July 2008
Contents
1.1 NUM dispute with Exxaro, Sishen, De Beers
1.2 Angloplat should correct its evil ways
2.1 Johan Nel’s appearance in court in Swartruggens
3.1 Statement by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai
Workplace
1.1 NUM dispute
with Exxaro, Sishen, De Beers
Eddie Majadibodu, Lesiba Seshoka, 10 July 2008
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has declared disputes with Exxaro Coal, Sishen Iron Ore and De Beers.
The NUM and De Beers will meet at the CCMA on the 21st July for Conciliation, failure of which the union will prepare itself for industrial action. The NUM demands from the diamond giant an increment of 13,5% while the company offers 11% on a two year agreement.
At Exxaro Coal, the NUM demands that the minimum wage be at R4000 and an increment of 17% for levels P8, 7 and 6 while it demand 15% for level P5,4 and 3. Since the company refused on an equalization process for the companies operating inside and outside the Chamber of Mines, the NUM declared a dispute at the CCMA.
Sishen Iron Ore Company is also faced with a dispute at the CCMA for refusing to deliver on wages.
The National union of Mineworkers is currently involved in a mobilization process for strikes amongst its members in case the CCMA award it certificates of non-resolution of the disputes.
“It is going to be a big, big fight” says Eddie Majadibodu, the NUM Negotiator at the three companies.
“Food prices had sky-rocketed, fuel prices and general inflation, there is just no room for peanuts increases and for that we are prepared for war” he says.
Eddie Majadibodu, Negotiator, 082 809 3227
Lesiba Seshoka, (NUM National Spokesman) 082 803 6719
1.2 Angloplat should
correct its evil ways
Lesiba Seshoka, 10 July 2008
Rain clouds gather around the platinum giant as Baphalane ba Mantserre youth march. Government’s silence is deafening over a plethora of woes suffered by the communities where mining takes place.
The National Union of Mineworkers calls on platinum giant Angloplatinum to correct its evil ways of alienating the communities where its mining operations are located. The Baphalane ba Mantserre youth in association with the Young Communist League and support of the NUM in Rustenburg had today marched to Angloplatinum head office for the second time to demand that the platinum giant take its social responsibility seriously. The youth demand equity participation at Amandebult mine, the review of the notarial lease agreement and that the community be given preference when job opportunities occur.
Each day, a new community comes up with a plethora of woes created by the platinum giant. Throughout South Africa today communities are unsettled, unhappy and alienated. In Limpopo, at Mokopane, Mohlotlo and many other surrounding areas, drinking water had been polluted; communities forced to vacate their arable land and dumped elsewhere.
The NUM calls on the government to make a visible intervention as soon as possible to avoid an impending community level revolution against those who exploit their resources with no returns.
The NUM is fully behind the communities and will do everything possible to ensure that their demands are met.
Lesiba Seshoka (NUM National Spokesman) 082 803 6719
South Africa
2.1
Johan Nel’s appearance in court in Swartruggens
Solly Phetoe, 10 July 2008
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has once again has been mobilising its members, civil society, and members of the communities, in particular from Bojanala region, to participate, demonstrate and picket outside Swartruggens court on 14th July 2008 from 8h00 to 14h00.
We will be demanding that Johan Nel’s case be referred to the high court, due to its importance, and we call upon the following:
- That the police protect all COSATU members and communities and those who will be part of the demonstrations during the proceedings of the case.
- That the Department of Justice to be neutral in the matter.
- That the provincial Director of Public Prosecutions agree with the views of the people to refer the matter to the high court
- That the Departments of Safety and Security and Justice prosecute all those who are involved in the many cases that have been reported to the police.
- That all those who are employed either by state or farmers and politicians immediately stop intimidating, victimizing, killing and assaulting poor workers, poor farm dwellers
We are reaffirming our position, that we owe nobody an apology to defend our poor working class. We condemn all killings and assaults regardless of race. Therefore anybody who thinks to intimidate COSATU, you will not win.
The media is invited to the court, and we appeal to you, please media, not to be biased in your report on what is happening in Swartruggens court, and on the farms against farm workers.
For more information please call COSATU NW Provincial Secretary Solly Phetoe on 082 304 4055
International
3.1 Statement by MDC
President Morgan Tsvangirai
Nqobizitha Mlilo, George Sibotshiwe, Nelson Chamisa, 10 July 2008
Over the past ten days, I and my party have stated categorically that there are no negotiations between ourselves and ZANU PF currently taking place. In addition, we have stated that no such negotiations can take place while the ZANU PF regime continues to wage war on my party and the people of Zimbabwe. This position has not changed.
There is a meeting currently taking place in Pretoria at which the Movement for Democratic Change is represented by Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, and Deputy Treasurer-General, Elton Mangoma. Their presence at this meeting is solely to present the conditions under which genuine negotiations can take place and the mechanism under which these negotiations will be conducted as defined by the AU resolution. The lack of these conditions and an agreed framework in which negotiations can take place were the reasons for the MDC not attending the meeting between President Mbeki and Robert Mugabe last Saturday.
Those persons portraying this meeting as the beginning of negotiations between the MDC and ZANU PF are being disingenuous and exploiting the plight of the Zimbabwean people for political gain.
In addition, portraying these talks as negotiations also undermines the resolution of the African Union, the statements made by the G8 leaders and the current process underway at the United Nations Security Council, all of which are designed to pressure the ZANU PF regime to desist from its campaign of violence against the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe.
At present the state-sanctioned violence and repressive legislation employed by the regime is designed to silence the Zimbabwean people.
We in the MDC are committed to finding a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis and we will take every opportunity to clarify our position and to allow the voice of the Zimbabwean people to be heard.
Our conditions for partaking in negotiations remain:
1) The immediate cessation of violence and the withdrawal and disbanding of militia groups, paramilitary camps and illegal road blocks. All structures and infrastructure of violence must be disbanded. Amongst other things, war veterans, youth militia and others encamped on the edges of our cities, towns and villages need to be sent home and be reintegrated into society.
2) The normalization of the political environment, including the release of the more than 1 500 political prisoners, cessation of political persecution and allowing the currently besieged MDC leadership to conduct business and travel without hindrance
3) The reinstatement of access by humanitarian organizations to the people of Zimbabwe in order to provide food, medical and other critical services throughout the country.
4) Parliament and Senate must be sworn in and begin working on the people's business.
5) The mediation team is expanded to include an AU permanent envoy.
Until the above conditions are in place no negotiations can take place on the substantive issues facing Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwean people.
For more information please call MDC on (South Africa) Nqobizitha Mlilo 0835274650 or George Sibotshiwe 0766330314 or (Zimbabwe) Nelson Chamisa 0912940489
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.4.5/1536 - Release Date: 2008/07/05 10:15 AM
