Mpumalanga PEC on the strike 14-06-07 |
COSATU MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE
15 June 2007The COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Executive Committee consisting of leadership of all COSATU affiliates in the Province met today the 14-15 June 2007 and discussed amongst others the Public Sector Strike.
The PEC noted that it is unprecedented that workers from different union affiliations, across federations and cultural divide will demonstrate the unity we continue to experience during this public sector strike.
The overwhelming support demonstrated by both the members of the public and the COSATU affiliates during the protest marches conducted in the province is proof to our long standing assertion that the demands of our members are just, fair, legitimate, and reasonable.
The intimidations, brutal assaults and random attacks on peaceful demonstrators by blood hungry police is reminiscent of the police brutality during the apartheid era. There is little or no difference at all between the S.A police and the Zimbabwean dictatorial Robert Mugabe's police where the rights of workers to belong or not to belong are decided on the barrel of a gun. We join the millions of people in our country who have already condemned and opposed this brutality against the strikers.
Despite the state violence against our members we are determined that an amicable solution will prevail during this negotiations, we are convinced that the just struggle and demands of workers will see its proper end, with the achievement of a 10% increase, improvement in housing allowance etc, etc.
We commit ourselves to act beyond reproach and avoid being provoked by the interdicts and threats of dismissals against our members.
We utterly dismiss and reject the claims by our detractors including the media who are deliberately trying to portray the strike as a political tool against individuals rather than a labour dispute between the employer and employees. These claims are ridiculous and unfounded.
We call upon the government to work towards the speedy resolution of this dispute and demand the immediate withdrawal of all dismissal letters against our members.
A DISMISSAL TO ONE WORKER IS A DISMISSAL TO ALL OF US!
For more information contact Norman Mokoena at 082 803 6712.