The Creative Workers Union of South Africa 08 - 11 - 06

Media alert

The Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA), which organises actors, musicians and technical staff in the entertainment industry, invites the media to a press conference to report on the outcomes of a three-day workshop, held from 7-9 November 2006, which is discussing plans for a social security plan for creative artists.

DATE: Thursday 9 November

TIME: 12h00

VENUE: Orion Hotel, Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.

The unfriendly environment within which creative workers operate has left them prone to a variety of challenges, chief of which is the lack of a comprehensive social security plan. This leaves them very vulnerable. Far too many artists receive little more than a pauper’s funeral then they pass on.

CWUSA believes that the social benefits to which every income earner in this country is entitled must be extended to creative workers, so we can rescue them from poverty.

The current state of affairs is not acceptable or just for people who spend their lives entertaining and educating South Africans. It has to be urgently addressed.

The envisaged Seriti Social Security Plan aims to be an intervention mechanism for creative workers. It is in its infancy stages but already those involved in establishing it are looking beyond the inception and investigating means to sustain it.

The union is already identifying possible contributors to this noble cause to provide mental, intellectual, human, financial and other resources to our members. Role-players who have already decided to be part of history are the Department of Arts and Culture, SABC, Old Mutual, Thebe Community Financial Services and Drakensberg Promotions. We hope for a lot more.

After the workshop the proposals agreed to will be reported back to the members and confirmed at a report-back general meeting of members on 30 November 2006.

For further information please phone Oupa on 011 339 1679 or Kid on 011 403 6234.