Provincial strike action on electricity 17-07-08

 

Strike action on the electricity crisis

Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo

23 July 2008

Next Wednesday 23 July 2008, the Congress of South African Trade Unions will continue with its highly successful series of provincial strikes and demonstrations on the issue of the electricity crisis in South Africa, in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo. Details of the activities are listed below.

We must emphasise that all these demonstrations have been, and will continue to be, peaceful, orderly and disciplined in the COSATU tradition. People should therefore ignore the anonymous e-mail doing the rounds threatening violence against members of the public. This is clearly a malicious hoax circulated by the enemies of the trade union movement in an attempt to discredit us.

Members of the public are very welcome to join the marches listed below and can be absolutely sure that they will be totally safe.

The strike action is in accordance with COSATU’s Notice under Section 77 (1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act, dated 13 March 2008, in response to the danger of retrenchments in the mining sector and elsewhere due to Eskom’s decision to reduce electricity supply to industry and its threat to oppose any new major construction initiatives.

COSATU is further concerned that Eskom’s 27.5% tariff increase, which municipalities can increase still further, will put thousands more jobs at risk, as companies, already facing massive increases in the cost of fuel and interest rates, try to balance their books by retrenching workers, or may be forced to close down.

COSATU acknowledges that the current power-cuts and power shortages constitute a national crisis which affects all South Africans. We will work actively and constructively to help manage the power-shortage and to find a lasting solution, but are adamant that workers should not be asked to pay for government's failure to invest in electricity in the late 1990s, as a result of its plans to privatise Eskom and do nothing when it was warned about the amount of investment that would be required to meet the expected rise in demand for power in the future.

Workers can rest assured that all those who participate in the strike will be protected by law and cannot legally be victimised or punished, except for those performing genuinely essential services and who do essential maintenance work.

The action will culminate in a national strike on 6 August 2008.

23 July Provincial Demonstrations

Province
Venue and activity
Contact
Speakers (main speaker in bold)

1. Gauteng
Johannesburg: gather at Beyers Naude Square (Library Gardens) @ 10:00

March to Eskom in Braamfontein
Siphiwe Mgcina

082 465 8336
Sidumo Dlamini, COSATU President

Nolithando Mayende-Sibiya, NEHAWU President

Silumko Nondwangu, NUMSA General Secretary

Joe Kokela, SASBO President

2. E Cape
East London: gather at North End 10:00 March to Business Chambers
Xola Phakati

082 752 6504
Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU Deputy General Secretary

Thembeka Gwagwa, DENOSA General Secretary

Port Elizabeth: details to follow

Frans Baleni, NUM General Secretary

Mthuthuzeli Tom, NUMSA President

Umthatha: details to follow

Mabutho Kid Sithole, CWUSA President

Zizamele Cebekhulu, POPCRU President

Queenstown: details to follow

Roger Ronnie, SAMWU National Organiser

Wesley George, PAWUSA President

3. Limpopo
Lephalela: gather at Marapong Stadium

March to Eskom
Jan Tsiane

082 448 5099
Alina Rantsolase, COSATU National Treasurer

Philimon Shiburi, NUMSA National Treasurer

Polokwane: gather @ SABC Park

Ezrom Mabyane, SATAWU president

Joe Chauke, CWU President

Thohoyandou: gather at Thulamela

Oupa Lebogo, CWUSA General Secretary

E.P. Mafalo, DENOSA President

Tzaneen: gather at Taxi Rank

Petrus Mashishi, SAMWU President

E. Mamabolo, SADNU Presidenr

Globblersdal: gather at Quality Meat

Mthimkhulu Mashiya, SASAWU General Secretary

4. North West
Rustenburg: gather at Taxi Rank @10:00

March to Municipality Offices
Solly Phetoe

082 304 4055
Violet Seboni, COSATU Deputy President

Fikile Majola, NEHAWU General Secretary

Senzeni Zokwana, NUM President

June Dube, SATAWU Deputy President

Ben Khoza, NUMSA Deputy President

Phillip Khage, FAWU President