COSATU Today, 12 March 2010
Mluleki Mntungwa
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Our side of the story
Friday 12 March 2010
Contents
1.2 Azochem management drags its feet
1.3 CEPPWAWU supports Mboweni’s appointment as NAMPAK Chairperson
2.1 Hands off our General Secretary- COSATU
2.2 DENOSA on the newly approved HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programme
2.3 POPCRU opposes re-militarisation of the Police Service
2.4 Minister must repay hotel costs
2.5 POPCRU supports establishment of safety committees at schools
3.1 COSATU salutes Mario Masuku’s Democracy award
3.2 End threats of arrest of Getrude Hambira
1. Workers
1.1 Ford strike resolved
Castro Ngobese, NUMSA’s National Spokesperson, 12 March 2010
NUMSA has called on its members at Ford Motor Company’s Silverton based assembly plant and warehouse (CSO) that have been embarking on strike action since Thursday 4 March 2010 to return to work immediately. The Unions leadership led by General Secretary Irvin Jim and President Cedric Gina met with Ford senior management and amicably resolved all the issues yesterday Thursday, 11 March 2010.
NUMSA calls on all our members at Ford Motor Company in Silverton to resume duty as follows.
The first set of the workforce, the CSO, will resume duty on Friday, 12 March 2010 in accordance with their respective shift operations. The rest of the workforce (assembly operations and supporting areas) will resume duty on Monday, 15 March 2010.
1.2 Azochem management drags its feet
CEPPWAWU Wits Branch, 12 March 2010
CEPPWAWU remains highly disturbed that the strike which started in November 27th 2009 at Azochem Laboratory in Roodeport, Johannesburg is still continuing without any indications of ending.
Workers’ demand includes the following:
· an end to contract work,
· 13th Cheque plus Bonus be paid also to those employed on contractual bases,
· Contract workers to be paid per hour and 10% (ten percent) wage Increases across-the-board.
CEPPWAWU feels that the management of the company is not providing leadership in this issue as the delay to resolve the problem largely affect the worker’s incomes which exacerbate the situation. The situation is getting worse by day and the management does not seem to care as they continue to get high salaries every month while workers are starving.
The negotiations between the workers and the management have generally collapsed, as result we are calling upon the management of the company to allow the negotiations to resume as soon as possible to allow the two parties to resolve their issue amicable without any further delays.
1.3 CEPPWAWU supports Mboweni’s appointment as NAMPAK Chairperson
Thabane Mdlalose,CEPPWAWU Deputy General Secretary, 11 March 2010
CEPPWAWU has supported NAMPAK’s decision to appoint the former Governor of Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni.
The union believes that Mboweni, having served in the structures of the ANC for many years before being appointed the first black Minister of Labour and the Governor respectively will play a significant role in driving NAMPAK’s new strategic plan which will result in creating new jobs while serving the existing ones.
While looking forward to work with him, CEPPWAWU will continue to defend worker’s rights and will not hesitate to take to the streets against Mboweni and his team, if we feel that the interest of the workers are being undermined.
2. South Africa
2.1 Hands off our General Secretary- COSATU
Dumisani Dakile, Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 12 March 2010
COSATU in Gauteng has learned with dismay the continuous attack on its General Secretary by a lunatic called, Julius Malema. We have kept quiet with the hope that the leadership of the ANC will prevail over this premature leader and grand standing crazy individual but unfortunately such has not occurred for reasons best known by his masters.
COSATU has observed that Julius need some help from the organization and his actions suggest that he may need some cultural intervention and the sooner the movement realize such the better for all of us in the alliance and for our society.
This problem child really needs help and assistance and the movement has a responsibility and obligation to ensure that he does find such help. We have also observed that these attacks do not represent the view of the ANC YL collective leadership but are just an individual sentiment which will not stand any support from the membership of the Youth League either today or at any time. We wish to also state very frank and open that Julius views on the succession debate does not represent the views of the ANC Youth League structure. In the event he dispute this fact he is called upon to provide us with the minutes and the attendance register of the structure that has mandated him to indicate that the YL does not support our collective leadership that has emerged from Polokwane. We do not remember any of the YL structures where the succession debate or the question of 2012 Conference was ever discussed.
Julius must remember that before Polokwane there were serious attempts to attack and vilify the leadership of the working class and workers in particular and these attempts failed dismally. We had thought that he is a leader that can be trusted by workers and the working class but unfortunately he has proven us wrong. We also wish to remind him that before 2012 there is 2011. We will ensure that as the real motive force of the National Democratic Revolution that comrade Vavi is part of the ANC NEC. We believe that he will make a very positive contribution to the advancement of the National Democratic Revolution as a member of the ANC NEC. We wish to remind the problem child that he is not a gate keeper of the ANC and therefore the working class cadres will never ever ask any permission either from him or from his masters to participate in the ANC structures on any capacity.
We are also dismay by the silence of our leadership and in particular by the Jackson Mthembus of this world who have attacked our General Secretary and accused him of grand standing while on comrades who are practically grand standing he is silence as a grave.
2.2 DENOSA on the newly approved HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programme
Asanda Fongqo, DENOSA Communications Manager, 12 March 2010
DENOSA has welcomed the commitment by government that aims to test 15 million people thus reducing the rate of HIV and AIDS infections by 50% by 2011.
We note with appreciation that the campaign will also offer voluntary counseling at entry points in all health institutions. We further echo the view that prevention remains the best measure in combating the spread of HIV and AIDS in our country. However we note the alarming number of our people who are living with the disease- hence we are saying, it is imperative to ensure that they are placed on treatment.
DENOSA cautiously note the call made by the Ministry of Health for retired nurses to come and assist the system. Whilst we accept that our health system requires more personnel as a matter of urgency, we view the call by the Ministry as an interim measure to the gross staff-shortages that exist. Retired health professionals should be brought in to inculcate commitment and serve as mentors to the younger generation.
We reiterate the view that more focus should be placed on strengthening primary health care in particular in the continuing fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. DENOSA is further concerned that these retired health professionals are being called on a voluntary basis as this implies that they might not be given any sort of compensation for their efforts. In this regard, we want to emphasise that they must be remunerated accordingly.
We reiterate our call of re-opening the nursing education institutions and nursing colleges that were closed and train more nurses, as this forms part of a sustainable and long term solution to the current understaffing in our health institutions. In our commitment to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS including TB, as DENOSA we have already trained hundreds of nurses on stigma and discrimination, TB and rendering quality health care to patients. We will be training more nurses on HIV management in line with the new ART guidelines.
2.3 POPCRU opposes re-militarisation of the Police Service
Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 12 March 2010
POPCRU has noted the arbitral imposition of re-militarization of the Police Service by the Ministry of Police. We recall the then Apartheid regime was using the police and armed forces to suppress political freedom and, further negation of the universal right on our citizenry to freedom of association.
It was through those struggles when selective and immoral brutality was meted against Africans in particular that POPCRU was born and led more importantly to the unionization of the workers in the Justice Cluster. We reject the negative development that the Ministry is dictating that will in our view; reverse the gains of our struggle. We are content that if left unchallenged it may lead to de-unionization of the police service equally as our armed forces unions are facing the threats now. We maintain further that the usage of the word “service” was relevant to de-stigmatize the brutality associated with militarization of the police; and a departure from that obviously suggest that we will have “South African Police Force” as titles that goes along with militarization always across all countries dictates as such.
POPCRU believes the reasons advanced for such changes does not dwell on addressing issues perhaps of low-morale, under-staffing, under-resourced service points and lack of discipline in the police services. More importantly is does not reside on improving the economic status of our members against the hardships of high interests rates, global and local recession, high electricity tariffs and expensive housing access in the country.
The union adjures its members not to be misled that the ranking system will bring money in their pockets, but it is an attempt to put an agenda of the working class in disarray in terms of de-unionizing workers in this sector. POPCRU stands to challenge this state of affairs.
2.4 Minister must repay hotel costs
Lazola Ndamase SASCO Secretary General, 12 March 2010
Seemingly, comrade Sphiwe Nyanda, a distinguished MK commander is convinced that he must live his life as a Minister in the lap of luxury.
Firstly he bought luxury cars and now he stays in hotels rather than in his Ministerial House. Is this the extents to which comrades in government have degenerated?
Does government have so much money to waste while millions of South Africans live in shacks?
SASCO is now more than convinced that COSATU is correct that crass materialism and corruption both legal and illegal are the biggest threats to the revolution. The lavish lifestyles lived by ministers such as Nyanda are equally the biggest threat to transformation in our country. Nyanda must not forget that it is millions of the working class who stay in shacks and in dilapidated houses that voted him and the ANC into government. He must not insult our intelligence.
Instead of ensuring that the money that seems to have no use in his department is channelled to fund free education, comrade Nyanda decides to live the life of a rich tourist in Cape Town. These hundreds of thousands that Nyanda splashes around would have ensured that a sizeable number of students receive free education. This necessitates that we must intensify our fight for free education, otherwise all the money will be finished by irresponsible ministers such as Nyanda.
SASCO is enraged and in fact we are disgusted as the South African Students Congress by this opulence so brazenly enjoyed by comrade Nyanda at the expense of the population. Thousands of students voted for the ANC out of the hope that it would deliver a better life for all and not a better life for its Ministers. The ANC must reign in on comrade Nyanda otherwise he will cost us badly as the movement in the coming local government elections.Government must deduct these hotel costs from Nyanda’s salary as punishment.
2.5 POPCRU supports establishment of safety committees at schools
Mampane Norman, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 12 March 2010
POPCRU has welcomed the bold stance taken by KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to form Safety Committees to make schools safe.
The union reaffirms its support on the matter and believe it resonates with the outcomes of Polokwane to elevate safety as a societal responsibility and enhance community policing as a model relevant and vibrant to stop violence, stabbings, shootings and any form of abuse within the school environment.
POPCRU urges other provinces to take a leaf from KZN.
3. International
3.1 COSATU salutes Mario Masuku’s Democracy award
Patrick Craven, COSATU’s National Spokesperson, 12 March 2010
COSATU has added its voice to the numerous messages of congratulation to the President of PUDEMO, Mario Masuku, for being awarded the prestigious Democracy Prize by the people of Denmark.
COSATU has consistently stood firm on the side of the working and struggling masses of Swaziland during these trying times in the history of their noble struggle for democracy. It is a struggle for the extension of the frontiers of democracy and justice in our region and continent, hence our active interest in its success.
During these joint efforts, we have come to know and work with Comrade Masuku who has proven to be a solid force, source of inspiration and resilient personality, resembling the best of the Swazi people.
The struggling fraternity of Swaziland should be proud of their achievement, for Masuku is their product, a product of the heroic struggles and sacrifices of the militant, yet humble masses of Swaziland. In receiving this great award, Masuku will be doing so on behalf of the thousands of Swazis in the trenches of struggle, who are daily waging determined struggles against land dispossession by the royal family, grinding levels of poverty and unemployment, rampant abuse of women in the name of culture and repressive political leaders, as well as the extreme levels of royal looting that has bled the economy dry.
COSATU continues to mobilise the world community of democrats and revolutionaries behind the cause of the Swazi people for democracy, in the same way that we have done so and continue to do so in Zimbabwe and other parts of the world.Therefore, we wish to pay special tribute to the living legend of the Swazi people’s struggle for democracy and justice, Mario Masuku and pledge our continued commitment to the cause of the Swazi people, as recently demonstrated by the successful launch of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC), which is bound to take the struggle to new heights.
Our firm view could not be captured any better than in the words of our President, Sidumo Dlamini during the historic launch of the SDC two weeks ago in Johannesburg, when he said, “With these words, we affirm our full support for this great initiative and pledge to play our part in advancing the objectives of a free and democratic Swaziland within our own limitations. We repeat again, that we are not involved in the Swazi struggle of our own accord, but under the leadership and guidance of the organisations that have the mandate of the Swazi people themselves. We stand ready to support you, but will not substitute you in your own struggle.”
3.2 End threats of arrest of Getrude Hambira
Desmilene Minyi, WFP Labour Rights Programme Coordinator, 12 March 2010
Women on Farms Project fully stands in solidarity with the workers from GAPWUZ (General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe)and the entire working class in Zimbabwe as you take action to defend yourselves against harassment and persecution. We also want to condemn the attack on our comrade Getrude Hambira who has now been forced to go into exile.
The WFP notes with regret that, for a long while, workers in Zimbabwe have continued to live and work under severe conditions. We are aware of the struggle for free political activity as well as the plight of farm workers who suffer at the hands of the authorities in Zimbabwe through the use of state repressive apparatus such as the police and the army. We as activists from Women on Farms Project:
- Are concerned by the violence perpetrated by the Zimbabwe security forces against innocent workers and civilians.
- Are shocked by the brutality and inhuman behaviour of the Zimbabwe forces.
- Send our condolences to the affected families and to the entire community of workers in Zimbabwe.
- As workers and activist in the land sector, the brutality has touched our hearts and souls.
The organization calls on the government of Zimbabwe and all peace-loving nations to support and assist Zimbabweans to realise their democracy and the right to organise as workers without the fear of intimidation and brutality.
We offer our support and solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe and wish to assure Comrade Hambira of our unconditional support.
We will continue to show our concern, support and solidarity for GAPWUZ.
