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1.Tribute to John Zikhali
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the SA Clothing
and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) are mourning the tragic loss of
one of its greatest heroes, John Zikhali, President of SACTWU, who
died in a car accident at Pietermaritzburg over the Easter weekend.
We send our deep condolences to his family, friends and union comrades.
He was returning from an Easter church service where he was ordained
as a pastor of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Holy Spirit Church
of Zion when the accident happened early on Sunday morning. He was
with his wife and 3 other women members of the church, who were also
injured in the accident.
John Zikhali served the trade union movement for more than 30 years
at all levels, from shop steward to union president. His contribution
to the workers' movement and the national liberation struggle was massive.
At the time of his death, he was employed at Cotton King, a Durban-based
textile factory.
He was a descendent of the 1973 Durban strike wave and carried forward
the great fighting traditions of those battles. He was the KwaZulu
Natal Provincial Chairperson of COSATU from 1994 to 2000. He was the
most dynamic of provincial chairpersons throughout that period, for
much of which time the Provincial Secretary was incapacitated and John
was running the office single-handedly.
He was a great mobiliser and played a leading role in all the ANC's
election campaigns, particularly in the historic 1994 campaign, and
never failed to deliver good results. He was also a renowned peacemaker,
during a time of intense conflict between the ANC and IFP. The fact
that today we see only isolated instances of political violence and
relative peace in the province is thanks to a great extent to John
Zikhali and others who worked with him.
As President of SACTWU, he faced huge challenges - the catastrophic
loss of jobs, the flood of cheap imports from China, the WTO trade
talks which threaten to cut protective tariffs even further. He made
sure that the union responded so well. The Cape Town fashion festival,
the latest of which was launched last week is an outstanding initiative
by the trade union, to protect and promote the industry and the workers.
It has involved a huge amount of collaboration with employers, designers,
provincial and national government.
This initiative together with countless others is a testimony to the
calibre of John Zikhali and those he served with in the SACTWU. It
is an attempt by workers to maximise partnerships meant to save jobs
in the clothing, textiles and footwear industry.
John Zikhali also served, at the time of his death, as a Vice-President
of the Brussels-based International, Textile, Garment and Leather Workers'
Federation, as a member of the COSATU Central Executive Committee,
as a member of the Cotton Board of South Africa and as a Trustee of
the SACTWU Educational Trust.
"Workers and the poor are certainly poorer without his wisdom,
clarity and extensive organising and mobilising skills," says
the COSATU statement.
"John Zikhali will never be forgotten by workers. For years to
come he will remain an example for future generations to follow. He
was a true servant of the movement, which will remain forever in his
debt."
John leaves behind his wife and 4 children aged 22, 18, 16 and 12
years respectively.
2. Jobs and Poverty Campaign
COSATU's Jobs and Poverty Campaign is about to take
off again in May, with sectoral strike action as follows:
We urge all workers, their families and communities to get involved
in this campaign to fight the biggest social evils of our
time mass unemployment, gross inequality and terrible levels
of poverty. See
the new special Shopsteward magazine for more about the campaign.
3.Cosatu NW jobs & poverty
campaign and May Day celebration
COSATU North West has condemned the attitude of
the employers' associations for the manner in which they are negotiating
with SATAWU, Telkom employers who want to lock out CWU members
and also the Overland Group Company's attitude towards SACCAWU
members in the North West.
"We confirms our support for all members of CWU, SACCAWU
and SATAWU and declares that the COSATU Jobs and Poverty Campaign
programme will target the above campaigns as well as our Provincial
Blacklisting Campaign against employers who continue to practice
racism, casualisation and retrenchments of workers every day and
negotiate with workers in bad faith," says the province.
"We therefore demand that these companies should meet the
demands of our members and will continue to support all COSATU
members who are on strike against their companies. In support of
our ongoing campaign around jobs and poverty we shall be holding
sectoral marches to coincide with the national sectoral actions
listed above.
"As part of the mobilisation for our provincial sectoral
strikes, COSATU locals and members of its affiliates will be demonstrating
and picketing during lunch as they are currently doing at Overland,
Telkom and other companies which continue to practice racism, casualisation,
retrenchments of workers, hour by hour, day by day, as farming
employers are doing.
"As a build-up to these sectoral actions we shall
be celebrating May Day, 1 May, as follows:
-
-
Zeerust: Lehurutse Stadium
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Klerksdorp: James
Motlatsi Stadium
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Britz: Indian Sport Ground
"Since 27 March COSATU North West has demonstrating and picketing
and it will hold the Provincial Shop Stewards' Council on 22 April
in Klerksdorp, which will be addressed by COSATU General Secretary
Zwelinzima Vavi and will involve all COSATU affiliates' shop stewards
in the Province. The programme will run up to the end of May."
4. Cosatu appeals to minister
COSATU is making an urgent appeal to the Minister of Labour to
intervene, on behalf of the government, to try to resolve the dispute
between security guards and their employers.
COSATU says it fully supports the strike and the legitimate demands
being made by these low-paid and exploited workers, and adds: "We
are adamant that SATAWU, which has more members in the sector than
all the other unions combined, is the true voice of the security
workers, and must be party to any settlement."
Already a number of workers have been injured and even killed.
If the strike is not resolved soon COSATU believes it will have
very serious negative consequences for the whole country.
SATAWU has already approached the minister for assistance but
their calls have not been answered. COSATU is therefore asking
the government to put pressure on the employers to return to the
negotiating table and make a serious effort to resolve the dispute.
The federation is also demanding that the CCMA exercise its responsibility
to convene the parties to a meeting, so that the dispute can be
speedily settled through negotiation.
"It is imperative," says COSATU, "that all parties
to the dispute now come to the table and conclude this matter.
They have no choice!"
5. Re-occupation of farm land
on 27 April
COSATU Western Cape is proceeding with its plans to
reoccupy the farms that workers were immorally and illegally evicted
from.
"Farmers in the Jonkershoek Valley," says the COSATU statement, "are
using an army of lawyers to cleanse Jonkershoek Valley of black people.
In the quest to perpetuate white privilege and the black elite, the
law and money become the new tools of oppression and marginalisation.
The sophisticated legal strategies of evictions are retrenchments,
intimidation and buying people off by moving them to RDP houses in
townships with the promise of money.
"These actions are immoral and we will not accept the results
thereof. We will go and reoccupy those houses people were evicted from.
The rights of our people to maintain the social fabric of our farm
communities as the basis for raising their children will be defended.
"The police are refusing permission for the march and trying
to ignore the rights of workers in favour of the rights of farm bosses.
There is also a refusal of the farmers to even talk about social justice
for farm workers.
"We will march upon those farms on 27 April and reoccupy the
houses with the evicted families. We call on all farm workers and supporters
of justice on our farms to join this struggle.
"Today it is Lanserac and Jonkershoek Valley; tomorrow it will
be other farms. All organizations are invited to be part of leading
this campaign.
Farmers and big land owners have brought this upon themselves. In
1913 they stole the land. In 1994 we came to a compromise that was
meant to bring about social justice. The farmers' greed has led to
them not honouring the spirit of the deal.
"Well, we declare that we fight for our right to fair land distribution.
We will rather die fighting for the birthright of our children than
condemns them to be slaves as strangers in their land of birth. The
land shall be shared amongst those who work it!"
They will meet on the Brak in Stellenbosch at 10h00 before the march
starts. For more information please phone Tony Ehrenreich on 082 7733194
6. Nationwide racial discrimination,
alleges Satawu
The country's second largest airline, Nationwide, has consistently
maintained a policy of racial discrimination against black
and Muslim workers, alleges SATAWU. They say that in spite
of numerous attempts by staff to address the matter, the
company's management team has dismissed it out of hand.
"Complaints and attempts by workers to get management
to either probe the matter or take some disciplinary action
have been ignored and contemptuously shelved by the company's
white Anglo Saxon management," allege the union, in
the following ways:
Employment criteria: The company continues to give unqualified
white people management positions and better pay, while long
serving black workers are passed over. There is proof that
some of these include standard nine drop outs.
Old white pensioners are hired even if the work they are
hired to do can be done by a black worker. In one instance
a manager hired her own mother to work as a personnel officer,
a job that does not require specialized skill.
Management style: They have also complained about the company's
management style, which among other things disallows workers
to read newspapers even in their own spare time in the restroom.
Workers are also not allowed to buy lunch but are asked
to bring lunch from home. This is in spite of the fact that
they hold permits that allow them to go anywhere in the airport.
Workers have to ask for permission from the manager to use
the toilet and he has a right to refuse them that permission.
Managers physically assault and verbally abuse staff if
they get out of line. One manager told a black worker that
when she looks at her she feels like vomiting.
Racism: Black workers earn lower salaries than white employees
even if they are doing the same kind of work and have the
same experience.
Black workers are not promoted, no matter how long and how
hard they work, and there is no black manager in the whole
company.
Muslim workers are disallowed prayer time on Fridays despite
the constitution allowing religions to worship according
to their faith. Management is not even making an attempt
to ensure that they get time off for prayers.
Management has consistently refused to recognize the only
black union (SATAWU) that organises there, preferring to
recognize a much smaller union. Solidarity is half the size
of SATAWU yet it has been given a recognition certificate
when SATAWU has not.
Sexism: Female workers have no maternity leave. If one goes
on leave, she is not paid at all; as a result the nursing
mothers don't take leave for fear of not getting paid.
Injury on duty: Workers who get injured on duty do not get
any support from the company. One employer whose leg was
crushed on duty in April 2005 was forced by management to
return to work even though he was on crutches because they
threatened him with no work no pay. His job entails standing
up for extended periods.
Death on duty: A worker who got sick early this year was
refused sick leave and threatened with expulsion. When he
eventually died they disassociated themselves from him and
even refused to allow staff to go to his funeral.
Call for solidarity: We are convinced that this company
has no intention to transform and operate in the new South
Africa. We as SATAWU therefore wish to endorse the calls
that have already been made by other organizations that this
airline should be boycotted locally and internationally.
We would like to especially urge black and Muslim people
to stop using this airline till it improves its race, labour
and human relations.
7.Worldwide backing
for Saccawu in dispute with Shoprite Checkers
The General Secretary of SACCAWU, Bones
Skulu, has written the following letter to Jan Furstenborg,
Head of UNI Commerce - Global Union Network International:
Dear Cde Jan
We are thrilled by your support and display of our dispute
with Shoprite Checkers on UNI website. Kindly be notified
that we have since reached a deadlock at the CCMA, with
the CCMA Commissioner, as required by the Labour Relations
Act, issuing us a certificate confirming that the dispute
remains unresolved and thus entitling the Union a right
to go on a legal strike.
As a consequence of such a development, a meeting of the
Shoprite Checkers Shop Stewards/National Team is scheduled
for 19 April 2006 in Cape Town. This meeting, besides the
National Team will also be comprised of SACCAWU President,
General Secretary and the official co-ordinating Shoprite
Checkers, based at SACCAWU Head Office.
The purpose, above all else, is to discuss and develop
a fully fledged programme of strike action, including effective
coordination thereof, given the enormity of casualisation.
We will further appreciate, as alluded to in your letter,
that you are initiating a worldwide solidarity action,
inviting all UNI affiliates to send letters of solidarity
with the Shoprite workers, to their management and support
letters to the union.
It may well be essential for the UNI affiliates within
the Continent (Africa) and India, where Shoprite Checkers
had since been massively and widely spread/established
to consider attending a Shoprite Checkers workers' summit
or shop stewards Council scheduled for 10-13 May 2006 in
Durban, South Africa; and actively participate in such
a council in preparation for co-ordination and consolidation
of our collective efforts and approach on all common issues,
in dealing with this company as envisaged by the Multinational
Corporations Campaign and UNI Africa MNCs Project.
Amongst the issues of priority would be to ensure that
negotiations across countries, for a start, commence at
the same time, so as to coordinate collectively; as well
as to ensure that as and when there exists disputes we
are as well able to embark on action simultaneously within
the Region and India, etc.
8.No division between
Cosatu & Nehawu n NW
The Mail, a small community newspaper based in Mafikeng, North
West, carried a story about divisions in COSATU and NEHAWU
structures in its 7th April 2006 edition.
The article alleges that both COSATU and NEHAWU in the North
West Province failed to pronounce themselves in support of
Khumalo Molefe at the point of his suspension by the North
West Agriculture Department.
The article goes further as to allege that in the coming Cosatu
North West Provincial Congress, there is "no agreement
within the organisation regarding whom to advance for the earmarked
position," purporting that there are divisions in the
union about who is NEHAWU's candidate for the position of Chairperson
and Secretary of Cosatu in North West.
In the absence of facts, the Mail relies on innuendos, rumours
and outright fabrication to create a story out of nothing.
The divisions that the Mail refers to are a figment of their
imagination or of that of their source(s). NEHAWU wishes to
set the record straight as follows:
NEHAWU is not party to any 'cabal, faction or group' in the
ANC in North West. If any such cabal, faction or group exist.
Khumalo Molefe is a member of the union and he is entitled
to representation by the union. This representation was, is
and will be provided to Molefe Khumalo. As opposed to the case
of Molefe, the North West Legislature matter affects the whole
shop stewards' committee of the branch and not an individual.
It is not standard practice to issue public statements on cases
involving individuals. To suggest that Khumalo Molefe was or
is not supported by NEHAWU or COSATU is a lie.
NEHAWU North West Provincial Executive Committee agreed in
its recent meeting that NEHAWU will support its North West
Chairperson, Motsamai Mackenzie as a candidate for the chairperson
position in the coming COSATU North West Provincial Congress.
There is no mandate for NEHAWU to contest any other position.
The alleged divisions about candidates and or positions in
the coming COSATU North West Provincial congress are known
only to the Mail and their faceless sources. Perhaps, the Mail's
source(s) harbour ambitions about these positions, in which
case they are free to contest, but cannot use the media as
a platform to launch their campaign nor can they use the media
to slander the union and its leaders.
We expect the Mail to do the right thing and publish these
facts.
9.Merafong & Moutse
joint march in Pretoria
The people of Merafong and Moutse, led by the SACP districts
of both Dr Yusuf Dadoo (West Rand) and Moutse, will be marching
today, Friday 21 April to submit the memorandum of demands
to both President Mbeki and Minister Mufamadi, at Union Buildings,
Pretoria, at 11h00.
This is to take forward the grievances of the people that
they do not want to be forcefully incorporated into the provinces
of North West and Limpopo. There will also be stay away at
both Merafong and Moutse on Friday 21 April 2006. Everybody
will be going to Pretoria.
We are making a call to the president and his Mr Mufamadi
to listen to the people. The arrogance displayed by government
on this matter is a clear indication that they (government)
are determined to undermine the people. We have come a long
way with our democratic South Africa and we will stop at nothing
to realise what we have fought for. No decision can be made
about us without us. We are determined to fight government
on this matter to the bitter end.
Contact Nkosiphendule Kolisile, Dr. Yusuf Dadoo District Secretary,
South African Communist Party, 082 939 4035 (Cell)
10.CWU criticises SABC
report
The President of CWU, Joe Chauke was written the following
letter to Mr. Amrit Manga, Head of SABC TV News
"The Communication Workers Union is alarmed and shocked
by the manner in which your economics reporter, Frank Nxumalo,
reported the industrial action at Telkom. In our press conference
that was held on 18th April 06 Frank was given all documents
(case no: J550/06) that includes the out of court settlement
between the union (CWU) and Telkom SA.
However, the reporting by TV presenters deviates completely
from the press scripts given to Frank. The alleged court interdict
against the union by Telkom is devoid of truth and misleading.
The truth is that the union obtained the interim order against
the company, Telkom. Secondly, the TV new presenters refer
to CWU as commercial union as opposed to the correct titled
of the union, Communication Workers Union. I have attempted
to clarify the matter with him, unfortunately he opted switched
off his mobile line.
We would highly appreciate if this matter can be corrected
and investigate all irregularities pertaining to the reporting
and the distortion of truth.
Yours sincerely, Joe Chauke, President
11.May Day Rallies
Next week's COSATU Weekly will be a May Day Special. But here
is the latest list of rallies, which we trust you will all
attend:
| Province |
Rally |
Venue |
| Limpopo |
National Rally, Polokwane |
City Center, Cricket Ground (opposite Peter Mokaba Stadium) |
| Mpumalanga |
Provincial Rally, Middelburg |
Mhluzi Stadium |
| Eastern Cape |
Provincial Rally , Port Elizabeth |
Centenary Hall |
| |
East London |
Mdantsane, Indoor Sports Center |
| |
Port St Johns |
Sports Ground |
| |
Queenstown |
Indoor Sports Centre |
| Free State |
Provincial Rally, Bethlehem |
Betlehem Stadium(visit to dam |
| |
Botshabelo |
Arena |
| |
Virginia |
Harmony Stadium |
| |
Sasolburg |
Community Hall |
| |
Trompsburg |
Local Sports Ground |
| Northern Cape |
Provincial Rally Hartwater |
Comunity Hall |
| |
Colesburg |
Community Hall |
| |
Kakamas |
Community Hall |
| |
Springbok |
Community Hall |
| |
Kuruman |
Community Hall |
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