Taking COSATU Today Forward, 27 July 2022
Norman Mampane
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#2022YearofWorkersParliament #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
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
Wednesday, 27 July 2022
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU settles non-woven textile sector wage dispute with a 7% increase
- Protecting Our Schools for a Better Future
- South Africa
- NUM response to President Cyril Ramaphosa address on electricity crisis in the country
- DENOSA convenes its three-day NEC Meeting in Pretoria
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
Ø Malaysia’s new bill risks crippling unions
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACTWU settles non-woven textile sector wage dispute with a 7% increase
Andre Kriel, SACTWU General Secretary, 26 July 2022
The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its wage dispute in the Non-Woven textile sector.
This follows on a series of other recent settlements which our trade union has successfully achieved, and reported on.
SACTWU has declared a formal wage dispute for the Non-Woven textile sector, on 17th June 2022.
Negotiations in this sector started on 21 April 2022, and when no settlement could be reached after 3 formal rounds of wage talks, the union declared the dispute.
Settlement was reached on 15th July 2022, and the final agreement was eventually signed last Thursday (21 July 2022).
These new wage increases for SACTWU's Non-Woven textile sector members will be backdated to 1 July 2022, which is the normal implementation date.
This new collective agreement for the Non-Woven textile sector is a 2-year agreement, effective from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024.
It provides for wage increases of 7% during the first year of the collective agreement, and the same rand amount for the second year.
This new collective agreement was successfully concluded under the dispute processes and procedures of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC), with employers represented by the National Textile Manufacturers' Association (NTMA).
In addition to the wage increases, this new Non-Woven textile sector agreement also provides for the following improvements, amongst other:
• abolishment of new entry level wage provisions;
• an increase in the long service allowance;
• a compulsory requirement that annual bonuses are payable no later than at least 1 week before Christmas day;
• abolishment of the restriction that no annual bonus is applicable if an employee leaves employment before 1 November, and replaced with a provision that such employees will earn a pro-rata annual bonus;
• an increase in the annual bonus by 1 extra paid day.
This now signed new collective agreement for the Non-Woven textile sector will be submitted to the Minister of Employment & Labour, with a request for its gazettal and extension to non-party employers.
Issued by
Andre Kriel-SACTWU General Secretary
If further comment is required please contact SACTWU’s National Sector Co-ordinator for the Non-Woven textile sector, SACTWU's Western Cape 1st Provincial Organiser, Mr Xolisile Guwa, on cell number 060 6555428.
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Protecting Our Schools for a Better Future
Nomarashiya Caluza, SADTU KZN Provincial Secretary, 26 July 2022
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, the biggest union in the education and public service sector, in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and UNICEF South Africa, are on a campaign to protect schools’ infrastructure.
This collaboration stems from SADTU’s “I AM A SCHOOL FAN” campaign intended to mobilise all stakeholders which include learners, parents, teachers, community members, relevant government departments, faith-based organisations, and the private sector to play a decisive role towards ensuring that schools are safe.
The July 2021 “riots” and the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal further illuminated the infrastructure challenges in our schools.
This leg of the campaign, working together with NECT and UNICEF South Africa, aims to further mobilise all stakeholders to protect the much-needed school infrastructure.
The media are hereby invited to attend and cover the launch. The details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 27 July 2022
Venue: Mzuvele Secondary School, 1 Klolo Road, KwaMashu in Durban
Time: 10:00am – 12 noon
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
CONTACT: SADTU KZN Provincial Secretary, Nomarashiya Caluza: 082 611 7027
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Applications for Old Mutual Education Trust Scholarship Programme Now Open for the 2023 Academic Year!
Members of DENOSA are hereby informed that Applications for the Old Mutual Education Trust Scholarship Programme for the 2023 academic year are now open to all paid-up DENOSA members, their spouses, dependent children and employees of DENOSA.
Enclosed is the information on the criteria, the time-line of the process from application to the final decision as well as the closing date.
The closing date for applications is end of August 2022.
DENOSA encourages all its members to utilize this opportunity to the maximum.
To apply, follow this link: https://www.oldmutual.co.za/.../old-mutual-education-trust/
Wishing you all the best of luck!!
South Africa
NUM response to President Cyril Ramaphosa address on electricity crisis in the country
William Mabapa, NUM General Secretary, 26 July 2022
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has noted the delivery of the energy plan by President Cyril Ramaphosa. From the address, the NUM cannot help but conclude that the current administration is in a rush to facilitate the privatization of ESKOM. The address is anchored on three pillars which are fixing EEKOM and improving the performance of the existing fleets of ESKOM power plants, to accelerate the procurement of new capacity from renewables, gas, and battery storage, and to accelerate greater private investment in generation capacity.
Let us dissect the above three pillars as outlined by the President. The first pillar in resolving the current energy crisis according to the energy plan is improving the existing fleets of ESKOM power plants by improving maintenance. The reality is that ESKOM and the government has a plan to decommission 10000 MW to 12000 MW of the existing 46000MW of the coal power plant by 2030.
In addition to the crisis of ESKOM, the fleet is the steam generator project crisis at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station which seems to be giving ESKOM a headache. Koeberg contributes 1800MW to the grid. If the steam generator project is delayed or cancelled, we are running a risk of losing 1800MW. Ironically the president did not address or mitigate this risk. We also have a problem with the performance of our new power stations Medupi and Kusile. The address by the president is not giving details on how the ESKOM new power stations are going to be addressed. From the president’s address, ESKOM is not a priority in resolving the current energy crisis but the private sector. ESKOM is made to fail to pave the way for the addition of private players in the energy sector.
The second pillar that is proposed by the President is to accelerate the procurement of new capacity in the form of renewable energy, gas and battery storage. The president suggests that adding non-dispatchable renewables while closing the dispatchable coal power plant will resolve our energy crisis. We need a base load power plant which produces a reliable electricity supply to support the unreliable renewable energy sources. Germany is a good example that renewables without a stable baseload are not a solution. We need to learn from the experience of Germany. Since the war in Ukraine, the demand and the usage of coal have increased in the world. The export of coal from our country has also increased. In our contribution to the integrated Resource Plan (IRP) as the NUM, we stressed that South Africa needs a well-balanced and scientific energy mix. The NUM believes that the country needs to protect its security of supply. This can only be achieved if the electricity generation, transmission, and generation remain in the hands of the state. Giving the responsibility to build new capacity to the private sector is going to destroy ESKOM. The suggested unbundling of ESKOM into three companies is going to create more energy problems for our country.
Australia restructured their electricity utility to form the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). AEMO is responsible for operating two electricity spot markets through which electricity is traded across the country. A similar structure is proposed in South Africa in the form of an Independent Transmission System and Market Operator (ITSMO). This system created mayhem in Australia leaving the country which has sufficient sources of energy in an energy crisis. South Africa must revert to a vertically structured ESKOM and stop the plan to unbundle ESKOM and the formation of ITSMO.
The third pillar proposed by the President is to accelerate greater private investment in generation capacity. In this pillar, the President is proposing the privatization of the electricity sector. The NUM is vehemently opposed to this neo-liberal approach which will leave our country in a bigger crisis in the future. Many countries that privatized their energy sector are reverting to public ownership. France which already owns 84% of Electricite De France (EDF) is now planning to completely nationalise the utility. They are doing this to protect their security of supply. South Africa must learn from this experience. The world is becoming politically unstable; it will be unrealistic to rely on other countries for our energy supply.
The President also raised issues of sabotage and criminality in the ESKOM power station Thutuka Power Station. The NUM believes that if there is criminality the company must report that criminality to the police. We are aware that some of the employees in Thutuka Power Station have been suspended for an unreasonable period without being charged. The company must stop this form of harassment of our members. We call for their immediate reinstatement.
The NUM is extremely disappointed that 12 NUM members at Thutuka Power Station remain suspended since March 2021 and they have not been formally charged. Thutuka Power Station management must stop these lies about our members being suspended.
The main challenge at ESKOM Power Stations is that the power utility is not buying components, spares and bolts to fix the technical problems in Power Stations. Units are being switched off and our members don't understand why units are being switched off.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Thutuka Power Station and only met with the same management that is lying about our members being suspended. We were shocked that President Cyril Ramaphosa last night was praising the same liars for a job well done. NUM members are very angry that President Cyril Ramaphosa only met with the management and never with the workers to hear their view. We urge the President to meet with NUM members in Thutuka so that he has a balanced view than a single narrative from management which is biased.
The scrapping of the license threshold is a direct attack on ESKOM. Most mining companies will start producing electricity for their operations which will leave ESKOM with no big customers. This action will kill ESKOM. ESKOM will not survive without these big customers. The NUM does not support scrapping the regulatory threshold. Our government must go back to the basics of how a developmental state must behave. Our State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are well placed to carry out a developmental role in our country. Over-reliance on the private sector will undermine the developmental outlook of our state. It will make electricity unaffordable for poor people. It is also our position that renewable energy be owned by the public and not the private sector.
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DENOSA convenes its three-day NEC Meeting in Pretoria
Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communication Manager, 26 July 2022
DENOSA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has just convened at the DENOSA Head Offices in Pretoria, which will sit until 28 July 2022.
This is DENOSA's second NEC meeting for the year, which will see it discussing and resolving on the many nursing issues in the country.
In setting the tone during his address on Day One (26 July 2022) of the meeting, DENOSA President, Simon Hlungwani, said the NEC will have its hands full for the next three days as it will have to consolidate a position on key and developing issues that are currently ongoing in the country.
He commended the hosting of both the International Workers' Day and International Nurses Day in May this year, which saw workers and nurses participating in the activities of their days as both workers and healthcare professionals. He also called for more improvement in this regard.
Key amongst the issues scheduled for thorough discussions at the meeting are the ongoing salary negotiations for government employees at the Public Sector Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), especially the attitude of the government at these negotiations.
The meeting will also reflect on both the International Workers' Day event and the hosting of the International Nurses Day in South Africa on 12 May 2022. The NEC will also reflect on the activities and programmes of DENOSA both at national and in provinces.
The NEC will also reflect on the recent union federation COSATU's provincial congresses and the National Gender Congress, which elected DENOSA's 2nd Deputy President, Thandeka Msibi as the Chairperson.
To feature highly on the discussions at the meeting, too, will be the reflections on the recent SACP National Congress and its posture on the question of the reconfiguration of the alliance, as it will on COSATU's preparations for participation in the upcoming ANC Policy Conference, which appears to be lean and mute on the efforts to reconfigure the country's healthcare system in the form of National Health Insurance (NHI).
The NEC will also look at the preparations for DENOSA's upcoming events, including the provincial congresses, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting, and the National Congress, amongst others.
The NEC is also due to introduce new members to the NEC, which will include provincial secretary of Free State, Brain Motshabi, provincial secretary of North West, Reuben Malete, provincial secretary of KwaZulu-Natal, Mbali Sabela, provincial secretary of Western Cape, Jaco van Heerden, and provincial secretary of Eastern Cape, Sivuyile Sikwe.
The NEC also saw two deployments to the National Office Bearers (NOBs) of DENOSA namely: Kwena Manamela who now holds the position as the General Secretary, Acting, and former DENOSA Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary, Khaya Sodidi, who has since been deployed as Deputy General Secretary for Member Service, Acting.
End.
International-Solidarity
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Malaysia’s new bill risks crippling unions
22 July, 2022
By linking trade union affairs to war crimes and terrorism, Malaysia’s labour law reform risks crippling trade unions in the future.
THe Malaysian government has been working on a labour law reform since 2018. The Industrial Relations Bill and the Employment Bill were passed in the parliament in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
However, the latest proposed amendment of the Trade Union Bill, called the fourth schedule, links offences to Penal Code provisions, like declaration of war against the king, it is detrimental for parliamentary democracy, acts of terrorism and organized crimes.
“While LLRC supports implementation of freedom of association in the bill, it is insane to insinuate that unionists are war criminals or terrorists. The penal code applies to everyone, regardless of whether they are union members or not, so there is no need to link it to the trade union bill. The government should not see unions as a threat to national security,”
says N. Gopal Kishnam, LLRC chairperson and general secretary of IndustriALL affiliate the National Union of Transport Equipment and Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW).
This means that if a union commits any offence in the fourth schedule, the Director-General could cancel or withdraw the certificate of the union or withdraw the permission for affiliation to global unions.
The proposed amendments could be used to intimidate trade unions and cripple union activities. The Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Human Resources on 15 July, calling the government to drop the fourth schedule immediately.
“IndustriALL Global Union is urging the Malaysian government to reverse its proposed amendments related to the fourth schedule. Trade unions must be treated as a social partner, rather than a security threat,”
says Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL
The LLRC, which consists of 58 trade unions affiliated to IndustriALL, BWI, PSI, IDWF, EI and NGOs, has engaged the Ministry of Human Resources to reform the Employment Act, Trade Union Act and Industrial Relations Act since 2019.
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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