1. Striking worker killed during protest

Both COSATU and the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) have expressed their deep shock and outrage at the murder of Ezekiel Raselemane, a striking worker at Kanhym Estates. He was fatally wounded by security guards employed by the company in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, during the early hours of Wednesday morning and died at the scene.

Workers allege that security guards at the company randomly opened fire on striking workers outside their employer's premises. Four other workers were seriously injured during the incident.

COSATU has sent its condolences to his family and comrades at this tragic time and conveyed its best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to the four injured workers.

"It is utterly outrageous," said the federation, "that such events can still take place in a democratic South Africa. We demand the fullest possible investigation into the incident, including the allegations that security guards at the company randomly opened fire on striking workers outside their employer's premises."

FAWU has laid formal charges at the local police station and COSATU has insisted that criminal charges be brought against any people found to be responsible for this outrage. "Severe sentences imposed on those found guilty."

It has also demanded that the employer immediately withdraws permanently the security guards from the scene of the incident and instead seeks to reach an amicable settlement with the union on their dispute.

500 FAWU members at Kanhym Estates are on strike as a result of wage disputes. Workers are demanding a 10% wage increase while the employer is offering 6, 5% based on certain conditions. Members are entering their third week of industrial action since its start on 6 September 2005.

Just last week 120 workers were arrested as they were on their way to picket on the owner's premises about 10 kilometres from Extension 24 in Middelburg. "White policemen arrested our members," say FAWU, "alleging that they were disturbing the flow of traffic. All workers were released on bail of R500 per worker."

COSATU has demanded that all charges against these workers be withdrawn immediately, and that the inquiry into the security guards should also look into the role of the police in this dispute and action taken to prevent anti-worker actions.

The COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Office has also condemned the killing. "Since the strike started," says its statement, "workers have been harshly treated and victimized. Police and private agents who unleash such a reign of terror and brutality against defenceless workers do not belong to the hard-won democracy. This gun-toting style in resolving labour disputes is condemned in the strongest possible terms."

They further called on the Kanhym management to resolve the strike action with urgency and immediately withdraw the private security from the company. The Province has further called for an inquest into the death of Mr Raselemane.

COSATU will back FAWU in any action it decides to take to defend its members and win its dispute, and has urged the members of all its affiliates to be ready to act in support of the strike. COSATU members in Mpumalanga will be marching on 11 October to the Middelburg Magistrates court demanding the transformation of the judiciary and the media. For more information please contact Norman Mokoena at 0825636969 or Vincent Mlombo at 0826496068.

2. Limpopo Dairies workers arrested

A casual worker laid a formal charge against five of the workers, alleging that they had assaulted him with the intent to do grievous bodily harm. The company, on the other hand, laid a complaint of intimidation against the 6th worker, alleging that he faxed a letter of intimidation to the employer. The employer, Tobie Fourie, however refuses to reveal the contents of the letter to union officials. The accused workers are now behind bars awaiting a bail application hearing. The union has appointed a lawyer to represent workers in court.

The six involved form part of 150 members at the company who have been engaging in strike action since 29August. The workers are all from the Polokwane, Thohoyandou and Makhado areas and are demanding to be paid the minimum wage as stipulated by the sectoral determination act for the farm sector.

"The striking workers are well supported by the surrounding communities who are very concerned about the toyi-toying workers and who are in support of a consumer boycott of the company's products," says FAWU. "Other retailers like Shoprite are reluctant to buy the company's products because they are aware that consumers won't buy the products."

FAWU, together with the local ANC, SACP and COSATU councillors, has called upon the company to drop all charges before negotiations continue.

3.End job losses! Fight poverty and unemployment

Don't forget! The next phase of COSATU's Jobs and Poverty Campaign kicks off on 3 October with a day-long stayaway in the Eastern and Western Cape. Workers in Gauteng and North West will strike on 10 October, followed by Northern Cape Free State and Mpumalanga on 17 October and KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo on 24 October.

We urge all COSATU members and their allies in civil society to mobilise in support of this vital campaign

COSATU is demanding action to create new jobs for all our people, to end racism and exploitation in the workplace, and to ensure access to services in our communities.

From business, we want:

From government, we want:

The SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) says it finds the current debacle over MTN shares between Transnet and Umthunzi Telecoms Consortium very disturbing and worthy of some attention as well as comment.

"As the major union organizing workers at Transnet," says SATAWU, "and therefore a body that has a direct economic interest in this particular development, we believe we have both the right to comment on this issue and the responsibility to make sure that the two institutions resolve this matter amicably and speedily.

"The size and high-profile nature of this transaction and the resultant media interest it has generated demand of all parties concerned to be sober, reflective and highly responsible in the manner they handle it. It is a matter that has the potential to create unfortunate consequences not only for Umthunzi and Transnet, but also for the beneficiaries, including our own members and it will definitely have repercussions for the whole concept of Black Economic Empowerment.

"We fear that such public sparring is also likely to cast a long shadow over all the other business transactions that Transnet will pursue, especially now, as it attempts to dispose of "non-core" business units within its fold. No doubt, Umthunzi is a genuinely broad-based BEE entity, an entirely new entrant in the telecommunications space. It is worthy of being given a chance.

"There are media reports," adds the union, "that suggest that two entities, Safika Investments and the Management of MTN are hard at work trying to muscle Umthunzi out of the deal. If this is indeed true, then SATAWU views this in very serious light. Both Safika and MTN Management have benefited significantly from previous sales of MTN shares, in the case of Safika in the late 1990s when SBC sold its shares in MTN to acquire shares in Telkom; and MTN Management, most recently when it relied on PIC funding to acquire 20% of MTN from Transnet.

"Unethical behaviour on the part of the champions of BEE and unmitigated greed will not advance black economic empowerment; hence Safika and MTN Management should be discouraged forthwith."

SATAWU is calling on Transnet and Umthunzi to enter into bona fide, good faith discussions, to find a mutually acceptable conclusion to this transaction. "We also call on Minister Alec Erwin to show exemplary leadership on this matter."

5. COSATU's 20th Anniversary

7.Stalwart Liz Abrahams turns 80

It was with great pleasure that FAWU announced the 80th birthday of Comrade Liz Abrahams on Monday.

"We are very honoured," said the union, "to be able to celebrate this living legend's special day with her here at the union's headquarters in Gugulethu, Cape Town."

Comrade Liz is well known as a trade union leader, gender equality fighter, communist and loyal and committed ANC and SACP member. She was born on 19 September 1925 and started to work at a fruit factory at the age of 14. She became actively involved in labour politics within the factory and was soon elected into the Food and Canning Workers' Union organized by the likes of Ray Alexander, Oscar Mpetha and Lizzy Phike.

She worked closely with these stalwarts in building the Food and Canning Workers' Union (now FAWU) and COSATU. She later became treasurer of the FCWU and went on to become the acting general secretary when fellow activists were banned during the apartheid era. After the annual congress of the union, she was elected as the official General Secretary.

She was banned in 1963 under the Suppression of Communism Act for five years. After her banning order she continued where she left off and started organizing women. She contributed greatly towards the Federation of SA Women, Congress of SA, SA Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the Coloured People's Congress and ANC Women's League.

Ma Lizzy is still active in her community in Paarl - a living legend and true inspiration for all of us.