Clothing, Textile & Footwear support for Cosatu strike 23-07-08

 

REPORT ON CLOTHING, TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR WORKERS' SUPPORT FOR TODAY'S COSATU PROTEST ACTION AGAINST THE ELECTRICITY CRISIS

Report by the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) on clothing, textile and footwear workers' support for today’s COSATU protest action against the electricity crisis in the Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo provinces.

Today, 23 July 2008, sees COSATU’s protest action on the electricity crisis continuing with provincial action in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West and Limpopo provinces.

The industry has virtually ground to a halt, based on information available to SACTWU as at 11h30 this morning. Based on a survey of 135 companies in the targeted 4 provinces, the union estimates that approximately 72% of its 17,100 members in these 4 provinces are supporting the protest action and have not reported for duty today.

In Gauteng, companies such as Diva Fashions (450 workers), Gina of Charles Street (210 workers), Adonis Knitwear (100 workers), First Badge (98 workers), Fieldswear (435 workers), G Fox (80 workers), Branaa (395 workers), Supreme Hat 'n Cap (50 workers), Overall & Industries (130 workers) and many others reported a complete shutdown.

In the Eastern Cape, companies such as Eltex (255), Yarntex (300), Time Clothing (650), Suntex (60), Mario Levi (110), Pelts Products (203) and many others have come to a standstill with full or near full participation in the protest action.

In the North West and Limpopo provinces, where there are, combined, only 6 known companies in the clothing, textile and leather industries employing approximately 577 workers, our survey shows that 513 workers have not reported for duty, with 3 out of the 6 companies reporting a complete shutdown of operations, inclusive of the largest of these 6 companies (Fieldswear, employing 435 workers).

These statistics were generated by a company survey conducted by SACTWU, with information supplied by management representatives and/or shop stewards. The survey covered 135 factories employing a total of 13,600 employees and showed that, of the 13 600 employees surveyed, approximately 9,800 workers are supporting the action today. SACTWU’s combined membership in these 4 provinces is 17,100 members.

Issued by

Andre Kriel

SACTWU

Deputy General Secretary

If further comment is required, kindly contact SACTWU's Etienne Vlok on (021) 4474570.