Cosatu Free State/Northern Cape Statement 13-04-07

 

COSATU FREE STATE/NORTHERN CAPE STATEMENT

13 April 2007

COSATU FS/NC will be holding its first Provincial Shop Stewards Council on Saturday 14th April 2007 at Bloemfontein City Hall. It will be addressed by COSATU 1st Deputy President, Cde Sdumo Dlamini .

The Council will be dealing with the programme to intensify its campaign around the May-day celebrations to be held in Qwaqwa, Welkom, Upington and Katu. The Council will further look at the challenges facing the workers around jobs and poverty in the province and the rights of the farm workers. The council will also map a way forward towards our provincial Jobs and Poverty Summit which will be held on 20th April 2007 with the support of civil society, NGOs, churches and its allies in the province, and taking the Jobs and Poverty Campaign forward.

The Central Executive Committee of COSATU has agreed that our theme for the May-Day Celebration for 2007 will be "Create quality jobs; stop poverty and inequalities now", with following sub themes:

a.. Defend workers rights, defend human rights unite against abuse of farm workers.
b.. A living wage for all.
c.. Intensify the struggle against HIV and AIDS.
d.. Stop casualisation and sub contracting and say no to labour broking.

COSATU in the Free State and Northern Cape calls upon all its shop stewards, its members, civil society and the people of Free State and Northern Cape to make sure that all workers attend the May-day celebration on 1st May 2007.

The federation wants to send a clear massage to the Free State and Northern Cape that May-day is a public holiday. No farm worker should be forced to go to work on this day. It is our call that all farm workers' rights, the LRA and human rights are respected by the farmers. We also call upon all retail store in the Free State and Northern Cape and other retail stores not to force workers to go to work on May Day because it is workers rights not to report for duty on the day

Contact: Sam Mashinini

Provincial Secretary

0825636954