National
MTN strike continues─── 16:19 Wed, 01 Jul 2015
Johannesburg - Eight affiliates of the Congress of South African Trade Unions on Wednesday vowed to take the fight for the reinstatement of metalworkers union Numsa to the trade union federation’s special national congress later this month.
Union leaders, along with former Cosatu general secretary Zwelenzima Vavi, who were collectively calling for Numsa’s reinstatement, addressed reports outside the MTN head offices in Fairlands, Johannesburg during a protest by striking workers of the mobile operator.
Numsa president Andrew Chirwa said workers would reclaim Cosatu ”from thieves.”
”Comrades are going to fight to reclaim Cosatu from the thieves who have stolen Cosatu from workers and turned it into their tool,” said Chirwa.
“Workers in other unions, besides those represented here, want issues on workers’ rights to be brought back at the federation. We have the support and believe our voice will be heard at the congress.”
Numsa would not be able to participate in the special congress after its failed court bid to be reinstated.
The union leaders said they had petitioned the congress to discuss two issues – the unity and cohesion of the federation, and the election of national office bearers. They claimed that certain Cosatu leaders used their positions to further their own self-interests rather than serving the interests of workers. They accuse the current Cosatu leadership, led by Sidumo Dlamini, of having double standards.
South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) general secretary Bones Skulu said the union leaders did not deliberately boycott the tripartite alliance summit held in Pretoria, but believe their absence sufficiently illustrated their point.
”Leaders of the alliance were on a public platform attacking us. The volumes of statements that were attributed to leaders, including ANC leaders, were a clear attack on Numsa and the nine affiliates,” Skulu said.
The affiliates had not been attending the central executive committee meetings of Cosatu since Numsa’s expulsion last year.
Chirwa said the alliance between the ruling African Nation Congress party, the South African Communist Party, the South African National Civics Organisation, and Cosatu ”had reached its sell-by date.”
”The country is in crisis because the alliance is in crisis…the problems within Cosatu arise from a fractured alliance,” he explained.
The striking MTN employees sang revolutionary songs outside the premises and called on CEO Ahmed Farouk to resign. The strike at the mobile operator entered its second month on Wednesday.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said most of the workers’ issues were resolved. He called on MTN to sign the agreement. Thabalala also called for a boycott of the company’s services until their demands were met.
”It is easy to change your cellphone service provider. You can always go back after they sign,” he said.
The eight affiliates who would be challenging Numsa’s expulsion during the special congress are Saccawu, CWU, Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Pawusa), South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu), South African Football Players Union (Safpu), Democratic Nursing Union of South Africa (Denosa) and the South Africa Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
Numsa president Andrew Chirwa said workers would reclaim Cosatu ”from thieves.”
”Comrades are going to fight to reclaim Cosatu from the thieves who have stolen Cosatu from workers and turned it into their tool,” said Chirwa.
“Workers in other unions, besides those represented here, want issues on workers’ rights to be brought back at the federation. We have the support and believe our voice will be heard at the congress.”
Numsa would not be able to participate in the special congress after its failed court bid to be reinstated.
The union leaders said they had petitioned the congress to discuss two issues – the unity and cohesion of the federation, and the election of national office bearers. They claimed that certain Cosatu leaders used their positions to further their own self-interests rather than serving the interests of workers. They accuse the current Cosatu leadership, led by Sidumo Dlamini, of having double standards.
South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) general secretary Bones Skulu said the union leaders did not deliberately boycott the tripartite alliance summit held in Pretoria, but believe their absence sufficiently illustrated their point.
”Leaders of the alliance were on a public platform attacking us. The volumes of statements that were attributed to leaders, including ANC leaders, were a clear attack on Numsa and the nine affiliates,” Skulu said.
The affiliates had not been attending the central executive committee meetings of Cosatu since Numsa’s expulsion last year.
Chirwa said the alliance between the ruling African Nation Congress party, the South African Communist Party, the South African National Civics Organisation, and Cosatu ”had reached its sell-by date.”
”The country is in crisis because the alliance is in crisis…the problems within Cosatu arise from a fractured alliance,” he explained.
The striking MTN employees sang revolutionary songs outside the premises and called on CEO Ahmed Farouk to resign. The strike at the mobile operator entered its second month on Wednesday.
Communication Workers Union (CWU) secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said most of the workers’ issues were resolved. He called on MTN to sign the agreement. Thabalala also called for a boycott of the company’s services until their demands were met.
”It is easy to change your cellphone service provider. You can always go back after they sign,” he said.
The eight affiliates who would be challenging Numsa’s expulsion during the special congress are Saccawu, CWU, Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), Public and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (Pawusa), South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu), South African Football Players Union (Safpu), Democratic Nursing Union of South Africa (Denosa) and the South Africa Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).
ANA
