Taking COSATU Today Forward, 4 August 2022
Norman Mampane
|
#2022YearofWorkersParliament #COSATU affiliated trade union’s Spokespersons and Media Liaison Officers are meeting today on a virtual platform from 10h30 #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
Thursday, 4 August 2022
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
All workers urged to take Covid19 vaccine jabs!
Organize at every workplace and demand Personal Protective Equipment Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
Ø Basic Education on official ending of Phase III of The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)
- South Africa
- Poor service delivery in Tembisa exposes high levels of inequalities
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Basic Education on official ending of Phase III of The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI)
2 Aug 2022
Official ending of phase III of The Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) in the Basic Education Sector
Phase III of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) implemented in the Basic Education sector will conclude at the end of the month of August. The third phase started on 1 April 2022 and the qualifying youth were placed in more than 20 000 schools across the nine provinces.
As initially communicated in terms of the project management plan based on available resources, Phase III comes to an end on 31 August 2022 with no further extension. Preparations are already underway for Phase IV which will start early in 2023 with a new cohort of young people. The PYEI is meant to provide the youth with an opportunity to gain work experience, obtain skills through informal and formal training that are offered by provinces and Department of Basic Education.
The PYEI further afforded young South Africans an opportunity of making meaningful economic contribution in their communities. The significant achievement of PYEI helps in addressing the triple challenge of inequality among the genders, unemployment and poverty. As government we urge youth to continue to grab the upskilling opportunities that are available, and we further urge all stakeholders to invest in the next generation of talent.
The youth placed in Phase III of PYEI are in the main, the youth that were placed in either in Phase I and II or in Phase II only as they met the requirements stipulated in the Implementation Framework. The Ministry would like to take this opportunity to thank all the youth that participated in PYEI.
The Ministry further requests that you continue to use the skills, knowledge, experience you gained whilst placed in schools to broaden your horizons. Some of the youth have started buddy support classes as a small fee, others are tutoring in the subjects that they excel in, others are doing infrastructure jobs in communities.
Message to the Youth:
The Presidency, the Department of Basic Education and Provincial Education Departments wish to extend their gratitude to all the youth that participated in Phase II and III of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) in the Basic Education sector.
he youth are encouraged to continue using the skills, competencies and knowledge that were acquired through this initiative. The Ministry wants to wish you well in your future plans.
Message to the School Governing Bodies, School Management Teams and School Principals:
The Presidency, the Department of Basic Education and the Provincial Education Departments express their appreciation for the contributions and commitment you provided throughout the implementation of Phase I, II and III. You allowed the youth to be part of the school culture, you provided guidance, training and support throughout the placement of youth in your schools, for that the Ministry sends its message of gratitude and appreciation.
Message to our communities
The Presidency, the Department of Basic Education and the Provincial Education Departments thank you for your vigilance throughout the implementation of PYEI Phase I, II and III. You reported any challenge that you noticed during the implementation. The DBE sends its message of gratitude and appreciation for all your efforts of curbing unbecoming practices. The DBE requests that you prepare a new cohort of youth, that they apply for Phase IV, through your vigilance and participation in building your communities.
Message to our partners:
The Presidency, the Department of Basic Education and the Provincial Education Departments express their sincere gratitude to all partners that came on board since 2020 to offer funding, human resources, skills and knowledge to the youth of South Africa. The generosity big and small, is highly appreciated as it contributed to the upliftment of youth and communities of South Africa. The Ministry extends its appreciation and gratitude.
Message to our Departmental officials both at DBE, provinces and districts:
The Presidency, the Department of Basic Education and the Heads of Education Departments express their sincere gratitude for working tirelessly since 2020. Your contribution has resulted in the excellent success stories that are told about the PYEI today. The Ministry extends its appreciation and gratitude.
Phase III terminates on 31 August 2022 with no further extension and DBE values the contributions of all participants in PYEI, officials, assistants, schools and business.
Media
enquries:
Elijah Mhlanga - Head of Communication
Cell: 083 580 8275
Hope Mokgathle - Spokesperson to Minister
Cell: 079 817 0427
Terence Khala - Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 081 758 1546
Issued by: Department of Basic Education
South Africa
Poor service delivery in Tembisa exposes high levels of inequalities
Louisa Modikwe, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 03 August 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in Gauteng has noted with concern the deadly riots in Tembisa. The community protests in that area and across the province expose the high levels of inequalities in South Africa.
Service delivery in working class areas has been suspended by all governing parties in different municipalities across the province.
Similarly to millions of citizens who are angered by the failure of municipalities to provide basic services, the demonstrations by the residents are a clear indication that South Africans have had enough.
The DA-led Ekurhuleni municipality’s ignorance and the snubbing of the outcries from the community has worsened the situation even further.
The service delivery protests, especially when violent in nature, interrupt the lives of communities and badly affect workers as they are unable to report for duty at their workplaces. This has a ripple effect to the already ailing economy.
COSATU has previously warned that the country is sitting on a ticking time bomb. Soon the entire province will descend into chaos like it did in July 2021.
COSATU in Gauteng is calling for an urgent round table indaba in the province that should include community organisations, political parties that govern at various municipalities and labour, to discuss ways in which service delivery challenges should be addressed.
We send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives during the protests.
Issued by COSATU Gauteng
International-Solidarity
Share
India: 9th August – “SAVE INDIA DAY”
02 Aug 2022
National Platform of Central Trade Unions along with Sectoral federations and Associations calls upon working class to observe 9th August as “SAVE INDIA DAY” CTUs & other PSUs to observe Solidarity Actions on 18th August on Coal Strike Day
The joint Platform of Central Trade Unions met on 8th July and then again on 18th July along with sectoral federations & associations to plan next course of agitations. The meeting took note that the working class under the banner of Central Trade Unions and the Sectoral Federations and Associations observed Nationwide Protest Day on 3rd July 2020, as a massive success throughout the country, in all workplaces and centres as a united struggle of Non-Cooperation and Defiance to anti-worker, anti-farmer, anti-people and anti-national policies of the Govt. The action programmes were organised in almost one lakh places in the states in the work places, union offices, on roads & streets including processions, cycle and motorbike rallies, public meetings.
The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, independent sectoral Federations and Associations congratulated the coal workers who successfully held strike for three days, on 2nd-3rd-4th July 2020 bringing the coal mines and establishments under Coal India and SCCL to grinding halt with no production and no dispatch of coal. Strike was called to oppose and resist the Government decision to completely privatise the coal sector through unregulated commercial mining of coal and trading by private sector including foreign entities much to the detriment of national interests and self-reliance. The coal unions have once again decided to go on strike on 18th August 2020- the last day of bidding for allotment of coal blocks for private commercial mining.
The meeting noted that with the opening up of some industrial units, all workers are not being taken back, only a small percentage is finding their place back in jobs and that also on reduced wages and refusal to pay lockdown period salary. Such denial of employment, and pressing for wage-reduction have to be unitedly combated. The recent decision of Air India authorities to give notice to 20000 employees to go on leave without pay for six months, including the provision of compulsory (forced) leave without pay, which may get extended to 5 years. This is grossly violative of the existing statutes.
The jobless are more than 14 crore and if we add the daily wagers/contract/casual, it is more than 24 crores who are out of livelihood at present. The MSMEs themselves are reporting that 30% to 35% units may not be in position to start their activities. The unemployment rate is high. ILO has said in its report that more than 40 crore people would be pushed into deeper poverty. That the malnutrition would increase, hunger deaths would become a daily reality, and there is real threat of depression resulting in suicides amongst workers say the eminent scientists & medical experts. All these issues are enraging workers.
The meeting once again reiterated the stand of CTUs that the Government not only failed in taking necessary steps to contain the pandemic in time having wasted four precious months, imposed unplanned lockdown with short notice bringing in severe miseries to the people specially the migrant labour, failed in taking essential steps for upgrading health system and providing the safety equipments to front line warriors, it not only failed to recognise the immense services provided by employees of Railways, Defence, Banks, Insurance, Telecom, Postal and other sector providing essential services during lockdown period, but did not address the problems they faced, it faultered in dealing with the problem of COVID-19 as law & order issue instead of treating it as medical emergency for the human beings and society. It has caused immense miseries to millions of workers, farmers and other vulnerable sections of the society, whereas, Government stood only by the Corporates & big businesses.
The CTUs reiterated their opposition to disinvestment and wholesale privatisation of Public Sector Enterprises, entry of FDI in core sectors up to the tune of 100 per cent – Indian railways, Defence, Port and Dock, Coal, Air India, Banks, Insurance including of Privatisation of Space Science & Atomic Energy etc., Public sector banks, insurance and other financial sectors are also being targeted for large-scale privatisation. Steps in favour of Corporates of Indian & Foreign brands to usurp natural resources and business of the country while mouthing the slogan of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat are being pushed through shamelessly. The decision of DA freeze of 48 lakh Central Government Employees and DR freeze of 68 lakh pensioners, which is also having impact on the state government employees, is not withdrawn despite vehement opposition from Government employees and CTUs. Neither the demand of cash transfer of Rs.7500/- to all non-income tax paying persons accepted. The govt. having failed in getting its own orders in regard to payment of lockdown period wages, no retrenchments and no cut in wages shamelessly withdrew its own order in the Supreme Court of India when some Employers went to court against these orders.
The Government continues with its arrogant attitude of going ahead with privatisation and sale of PSUs, and dangerously liberalizing foreign entry in vital sectors of the economy like defence production from 49 to 74% along with corporatization of 41 ordnance factories for privatization; it is also going ahead with its project of privatizing Indian Railways in phases, the latest being its destructive decision of privatizing 151 train services in highly remunerative routes to facilitate private players to make huge profit using infrastructure and manpower of Indian Railways. The policy of surrendering of sanctioned posts and ban of creation of new jobs in various government departments continues in detriment to the young aspirants for jobs. On the top of it the continuous price-rise in petrol & diesel made effective on 22 occasions in the last two months is another big blow to the people.
A Government which has no respect and concern, towards the rights and basic survival-entitlements of workers and the people, does not deserve any co-operation. We the workers/employees and trade unions need to do everything possible to be in solidarity with each other, unitedly face the disease taking all precautions necessary, stand with each other to defend our rights of unionization, collective bargaining, decent working condition, wages & future securities etc. This Govt has demonstrated cruel insensitivity of the basic human needs of the workers and people. This cannot be endorsed and cooperated with.
Hence the united platform of Central Trade Unions and Federations/Associations called upon to step up the struggles against the anti-people, anti-worker policies of the Govt both on sectoral and national level with continuity. It was decided that;
1. On 9thAugust –the “Quit India Day” should be observed as “Save India Day” through countrywide stayagraha/jail bharo-or any other form of militant agitations in all workplaces/ industrial centres/district headquarters and rural areas etc.
2. On the day of coal workers strike on 18thAugust 2020, militant solidarity actions in all workplaces and the PSUs in particular; possibility of strike action should be explored wherever is possible.
3. The defence sector unions/federations have been jointly planning to give notice for strike on the basis of the strike ballot approvedby more than 99 per cent workers. They may go for strike action sometimes in mid September 2020. The united platform of CTUs and federations conceived the idea of countrywide general strike against the policies of the Govt. synchronising with the defence sector strike and called upon all concerned to start preparation in that direction.
4. It is noted that the Scheme workers unions/federations (Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid Day Meal etc) have jointly decided to go in for two days strike on 7th and 8th August 2020 which will converge with countrywide satyagraha/jail bharo/agitation on 9th August 2020. The joint meeting of CTUs and federations called upon all concerned to express solidarity with the Scheme workers strike action.
5. It has also been decided to continue countrywide campaign against the Govt. move on Railway privatization in coordination with the unions/federations with the Railway Sector and also independently. Railway Federations reported that they are also planning and preparing for their response/actions at appropriate time.
6. It was agreed that the petition to President of India as a campaign which is circulated among CTUs will be finalized after receiving suggestions and then starting it as orgcampaign. Another suggestion was taken on board to initiate another petition to focus on specially unorganised sector workers’ problems. It was also decided that the Platform of CTUs will once again meet on 27th July for detailed discussion on preparations of 9th August program to make it effective and visible.
We call upon all the state chapters of CTUs to conduct their meetings inviting the sectoral federations and associations to plan about the next phase of agitation, and take the exercise to districts and enterprise/industry level.
INTUC
AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC
TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC
And Sectoral Federations and Associations
__________________________
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