Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 10 June 2024
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY |
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, 10 June 2024
‘Building a strong and united COSATU in mobilizing for the ANC electoral victory”
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize or Starve!
Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NUM set to convene its National Policy Conference from the 11th - 13th June 2024 at Birchwood Conference Centre
o South Africa
- COSATU Gauteng concerned about NPO budget cuts
o International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- ILO moves to boost safety and health in forestry work
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NUM set to convene its National Policy Conference from the 11th - 13th June 2024 at Birchwood Conference Centre
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 05 June 2024
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will from the 11th - 13th June 2024 convene its National Policy Conference, set to take place at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg.
The National Policy Conference is organised under the theme “41 Years of Unbroken Revolutionary Struggle for Workers”.
A range of organisational policy related issues within the four sectors that the NUM is organising (Mining, Energy, Construction and Metal Sectors) are scheduled to be thoroughly discussed and future plans outlined.
Amongst speakers invited and scheduled to give messages of support to delegates are leaders from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP) and other fraternal local and international organisations.
COSATU has already confirmed deployment of its General Secretary Solly Phetoe while SACP and ANC are still yet to confirm.
Members of the media are therefore invited to attend and cover the event and the full programme will be distributed to journalists at the venue.
For more detailed information, please contact:
Livhuwani Mammburu, NUM National Spokesperson, 083 809 3257
Luphert Chilwane, NUM Media Officer, 083 809 3255/ 073 354 6569
South Africa
COSATU Gauteng concerned about NPO budget cuts
Louisah Modikwe, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 09 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng is deeply concerned about the potential closure of non-profit organisations (NPOs) and resultant job losses due to funding cuts.
This comes after NPOs expressed their distress as the Department of Social Development, without proper consultation or notice, cut funding to the majority of NPOs in the province. These NPOs are now faced with an uncertain future and fear they might be forced to close their doors. This will result in job losses and negatively impact the capacity to serve those in need, given the high unemployment rate and fragile state of the economy in the province.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development changed the procedure through which it approves funding to NPOs. Unfortunately, this new process saw it redirect R15 million previously budgeted for the supply of dignity packs to newly formed adjudication panels.
COSATU in the Gauteng province urges the department to reconsider this decision and consult thoroughly with the concerned NPOs. We further undertake to have a meeting with the provincial government, to discuss this matter and explore solutions.
Issued By: COSATU Gauteng
International-Solidarity
ILO moves to boost safety and health in forestry work
10 June 2024
Despite progress in recent decades, forests remain hazardous workplaces. New guidance from the ILO aims to better protect those women and men working in the sector.
Millions of forestry workers globally are set to benefit from an updated version of the ILO code of practice on safety and health in forestry work, adopted by International Labour Organization (ILO).
The updated code, discussed and adopted in a meeting of experts held in Geneva from May 13 to 17, by experts from governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations, aims to improve working conditions and practices in the forestry sector, which remains one of the most hazardous sectors globally.
The new text also marks an important milestone as the first ILO sectoral code of practice since the ILO's historic decision to add 'a safe and healthy working environment' in its framework of fundamental principles and rights at work.
The revisions build on the previous 1998 code, as well as on International Labour Standards, including the now fundamental Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187).
Despite improvements over the past three decades, forestry continues to see a high incidence of work-related accidents and diseases. The updated code provides practical guidelines to help better protect those working in forests. It reflects also wider changes in the sector and the world of work and includes new areas where improved practices and measures are required.
The chairperson of the meeting, Jörg Schweinle, thanked the participants of the meetings for their constructive dialogue and their efforts to help make forests safer workplaces.
Director of the ILO Sectoral Policies Department and Secretary-General to the meeting, Frank Hagemann, congratulated participants on the work accomplished. He called for constituents and global industry stakeholders to actively engage in the promotion and implementation of the code at the national and international levels to make the sector safer for all workers.
The code will be presented to the ILO Governing Body for formal approval and publication in November this year. After this the ILO, together with its constituents, will work towards its global implementation.
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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