COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Shopsteward 07-07-08

 

PRESS STATEMENT OF THE COSATU MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL SHOP STEWARDS COUNCIL HELD ON 3 JULY 2008 AT THE WITBANK CIVIC THEATRE

On 3 July 2008 more than 700 shop stewards representing the more that 200 000 members of COSATU from all the economic sectors in the province, gathered under conditions not of our own choosing but conditions characterized by the global economic melt down as a result of the perpetual failures of the evil imperialist economic system. We met under conditions where the workers and the poor continue to face the brunt of capitalism and neoliberal agenda. This contradiction proves the bankruptcy of the market and its failure to address our social ills. The call for Socialism is more relevant today than ever before.

The poor and the working class of this country are vulnerable and are further condemned to the dictates of the capitalist market as a result of the increases in fuel prices, skyrocketing food prices, increases in the interest rates, escalating petrol prices and the price fixing of the basic food stuffs on which the poor spends the large proportions of their income.

The recent 27.5% increase in the price of electricity by Eskom is a further blow and are an onslaught to the poor and have direct and devastating impact on the cost of living of South African citizen.

COSATU believe that the workers and the poor should not be forced to pay for the political and the managerial shortcomings that have been created by government. We believe that should government have invested into our electricity generations some ten years ago when indication was given that we would run short of electricity, the country would not be facing the challenges we are faced with.

COMPETITION COMMISSION

The PSSC commended the work of the Competition Commission as it related to the banking enquiry. According we supported the recommendations of the panel, as follows

Increased competition in the banking services by opening up of access for non banks to the clearing and settlement infrastructure.
Capping of rejected debit orders to maximum of R5 as opposed to R110 currently charged by all banks, as the figure bears no relevance to the banks’ cost of processing the transaction.
A standard charge for the use of any banks ATM and that these charges must be displayed on the ATM screen at the start of the transaction.
Greater access to the services offered by different banks, which are often deliberately complex . That these services should be explained in simpler, standardized and transparent form so that consumers can make informed choices between services .
The PSSC received a shocking report on trends in wages, which amongst other reflected the following:

1) That workers’ remuneration for the period 2005-2006 increased by 6.9% whereas salaries of Chief Executives have increase by a whopping 34% between 2000 – 2005 and by 14% in 1996 alone.

2) Workers real wages since 1995 have remained fairly moderate, with 64% of workers earning R2500pm or less.

3) That white male workers, on average continues to earn the highest wage, followed by white female workers and African women workers earn the lowest wages.

4) That construction and wholesale sector pays the least in comparison to other sectors.

5) Noted with regret the continuing widening of the wage gap across sectors, e.g. in the Public Sector the wage gap between 1995, 2006 increase from 16:1 to 30:1 and in the private sector the gap rose from 6:1 in 1985 to 700:1 in 2005.

Despite the relentless efforts of unionists in striking good collective bargaining deals that are above inflation for the last two years, all of these efforts are undermined by the continued assault on the standard of living, and the greed of Chief Executives who are remunerating themselves at levels that are running away from the lower paid workers.

This huge and unacceptable wage differentials and wage gaps confirms our view that workers of this country have been the only one who have had to tighten their belt. This cannot be morally and politically correct.

We therefore declare to galvanise the progressive forces in the province to join the provincial stayaways on 16 July 2008 and 06 August 2008 in support of our demands for the following.

Ø Zero rating of all basic food stuff.

Ø Setting up of a National Food Price Regulator

Ø The introduction of a Basic Income grant, as a mechanism to deal with grinding poverty.

Ø Tougher action to be taken against companies and individual directors who are found guilty of price fixing.

Ø SASOL and Arcelor Mittal be renationalized.

Ø Our government to investigate and invest in alternative sources of energy.

Ø Government must bankroll or underwrite the entire bill for Eskom, energy, infrastructure for generations.

We commit and are prepared to soldier in unison in defence of our people and country against the imperialist onslaught and will not rest until we are assured that this second decade of freedom is the decade that favours the workers and the poor in both economical and political terms.

The protest actions will be held as follows

16 July 2008

NELSPRUIT - from Nelspruit Rugby Stadium to the Nelspruit plaza

BUSHBUCKRIDGE – from Twin Complex to the Police station

SECUNDA - from open space next to grave yard to the Police Station

ERMELO - from Mpumalanga Stadium to Checkers Complex

KWAMHLANGA - from Kwagafontein hall to Kwagga plaza

WITBANK - from Broadway Garage parking to ESKOM

06 August 2008

WITBANK – from Lynville stadium to Eskom

VARIOUS SUMMITS

The meeting received report on the following summits held, namely –National Alliance Summit, Provincial Labour Market Summit and 3rd series of the workers parliament.

To this end, the PSSC committed itself to work tirelessly and diligently to ensure implementation of the summit resolutions.

ANC PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE

The council welcomed the report that the federation is working with progressives in the ANC which includes the leagues and MKMVA and other components in the Alliance to stead fastly defend Polokwane, its leadership and the resolution.

Accordingly, stewards of COSATU are already implementing resolutions of the federation to dislodge the 1996 class project in the forthcoming Provincial Conference.

The meeting ended in a high spirit and a buoyant mood with members ready for action.

For more information please contact COSATU Mpumalanga Provincial Secretary, Norman Mokoena, on 0828036712