Unions condemn rights violations in Zimbabwe

The violations take place against the backdrop of misery brought by austerity economic policies and annual hyperinflation of over 900 per cent, which has eroded wages.

Police are banning demonstrations, and protestors have been beaten in a clear violation of international workers’ and human rights standards. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president, Peter Mutasa, and secretary general, Japhet Moyo, face treason charges that carry a death penalty.

When the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association acting president, Peter Magombeyi, was abducted by armed men from his home in Harare on 15 September, doctors and nurses in major hospitals went on strike demanding his immediate release. Human rights groups and trade unions joined in the campaign.

Following national and international pressure, the government joined the call for his release, suggesting that he was abducted by a “third force” which they had no control over. This explanation was viewed with suspicion, as the Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa had earlier warned at a public rally that the government would go after “those who chose demonstrations”, adding that “their lives will be shortened.”

Magombeyi, who is leading a strike for living wages, better working conditions and adequate funding for public hospitals, was found alive, outside Harare, after five days and is in hospital being treated for suspected torture. The basic wage for a newly qualified doctor in Zimbabwe is $400 Zimbabwe Dollars (US $27) and the government offer of a 60 per cent increase was rejected.

Police beat up anti-austerity protesters in Harare, Zimbabwe. Photo: Lovejoy Mtongwiza.

IndustriALL Global Union’s Zimbabwe affiliates, who organize in garment and textile, manufacturing, and mining sectors, condemn the government crackdown on unions.

The chairperson of the IndustriALL Zimbabwe affiliates, Joseph Tanyanyiwa said:

“We condemn the ongoing abductions and torture of political activists by suspected state security agents and call upon the government to protect citizens against inhuman and degrading treatment. We also condemn police brutality against peaceful civilians and the involvement of the army in crowd control which has resulted in the deaths of innocent people and injuries to many. We call upon the government to uphold the rule of law and respect constitutional and workers’ rights.”

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa said:

"We are concerned by the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government should respect the rights of workers including to freedom of expression and to fight for living wages. Workers should not be beaten up or face persecution for exercising their rights.”

Header photo: Police beat up anti-austerity protesters in Harare, Zimbabwe: Lovejoy Mtongwiza.

Unions support government plan to stop gender-based violence in South Africa

According to the recently released South African Police Service crime statistics a woman is killed every three hours. From April 2018 and March 2019, 2,771 women were killed, and rape and sexual offences are on the increase.

In an address to the joint sitting of Parliament on 18 September, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a government’s emergency plan to “remove the cancer of gender-based violence”.

The plan, to be implemented in the next six months, focuses on prevention of gender-based violence, strengthening the response of the criminal justice system, and firming up the legal and policy frameworks. It also provides for the care, support and healing of victims of gender-based violence. Women economic empowerment is also recognized in the plan as a strategy to reduce the vulnerability of women.

The rape and murder of Uyinene Mrwetyana, a 19-year-old University of Cape Town student, at Clairemont post office in Cape Town ignited a wave of protests to end the widespread gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.

IndustriALL affiliates took action and demonstrations took place in many citites across the country. 10,000 people demonstrated in Cape Town, saying “enough is enough”. In Johannesburg, demonstrators petitioned the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, to support campaigns to end gender-based violence. Social media campaigns such as #AmINext and #stopviolenceagainstwomen supported the protests.

Lydia Nkopane, chairperson of the IndustriALL National Women’s Council South Africa (INWC-SA) said:

“We are appalled by the increasing number of women who are murdered in their homes and at workplaces. This makes South Africa one of the most violent countries for women to live in. Therefore, we welcome the government’s plan to curb gender-based violence, and to improve the safety of women.”

The affiliates have signed the IndustriALL pledge, commiting to stop gender-based violence in the union and at workplaces. The affiliates are also campaigning for the ratification and implementation of the new International Labour Convention 190/Recommendation 206 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.

INWC-SA comprises women workers from the following IndustriALL affiliates: Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union, the National Union of Mineworkers, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union.

South African union signs wage deal

According to the three-year wage deal signed on 12 September, which expires in 2022, workers in the sector will receive a nine per cent increase in 2019 and seven per cent increases in the following years. The wage increases will also be adjusted annually to inflation levels and transport allowances will increase from R1540 to R2500 (US$105 to US$171).

The deal includes other benefits such family responsibility leave, and payments in the event of temporary layoffs. A once off gratuity of R7500 (US$510) will be paid to workers in the bargaining unit. Further, discussions between the union and the employers will finalize proposals on medical aid and skills grading.

Irvin Jim, NUMSA general secretary says:

“Our negotiation team worked tirelessly to get us to this point of the talks, and we are grateful to them for their hard work.”

Georg Leutert, IndustriALL automotive director says:

“We applaud the collective agreement signed by NUMSA and AMEO as this continues to improve working conditions in South Africa's automotive sector. As the sector embraces Industry 4.0, we also commend the skills development initiatives that are benefitting the workers.”

As the largest manufacturing sector in South Africa, contributing to nearly 30 per cent of manufacturing, and producing over 600,000 vehicles per annum, the automotive sector is important to the economy. The sector contributes about 6.8 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product. Further, it employs over 100,000 workers along the value chain, and contributes to skills development, technology and innovative, and foreign direct investment.
 
South Africa’s automotive sector includes manufacturing, distribution, servicing and maintenance of motor vehicles and components. The Automotive Production Development Programme (2013), which will be replaced in 2020 by the South African Automotive Masterplan, supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aims at focusing on producing for the export market. The programme gives the OEMs subsidies such as duty rebates to increase the local content of South African produced cars which is currently at 37 per cent.

African countries urged to ratify ILO C176 on mine safety

Deaths from mine accidents have increased since 2016; in coal mines deaths have risen by 400 per cent, whilst in other mines by 67 per cent globally. Deaths have also increased in the gold and platinum mines.

A meeting on 22-23 August organized by IndustriALL Global Union urged Sub Saharan countries that have not ratified ILO C176 to do so. Attended by 30 participants from IndustriALL affiliates in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the meeting discussed how public debates on health and safety in the mines are important. Laws and regulations also needed to be strengthened as well as implementing and enforcing of the laws.

Trade unions were urged to include mine health and safety in collective bargaining agreements. Workers were also encouraged to exercise their rights of refusal to do dangerous work when forced by employers to work in unsafe environments. Unions should also challenge employers who did not comply with health and safety standards.

Nancy Coulson from the University of the Witwatersrand’s emphasized the critical role of the union health and safety representative citing international best practices and examples from South African mines. She stressed the importance of representatives to always serve the interests of the mineworkers and not the employers:

“The health and safety representative should perform their role according to the laws, and these include the right to inform on hazards, investigate the workplace to ensure compliance, listen to worker complaints, point out lapses to the employer, and be involved in consultations on health and safety plans.”

Of the countries present at the meeting Guinea, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have ratified ILO C176. Other countries that have ratified are Botswana and Mozambique.

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director of mining said:

“Protecting the lives of mineworkers is a crucial function of trade unions and unions must vigorously campaign for better health and safety in the mines. Ratifying and implementing C176 is important to achieving this goal. In countries that have not ratified, unions should campaign not only for ratification, but for implementation of existing safety and health laws.”

The meeting was also attended by the International Labour Organization, government officials from the South African department of mineral resources and energy.

South African unions shocked by xenophobia and looting

The violence is a repeat of what has happened in previous xenophobic attacks in the country, and the police say they made several arrests.

Louise Modikwe from IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Union, who is also the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) provincial secretary for Gauteng province said: 

“COSATU is shocked by the violence against foreign nationals, in particular Nigerians, that started last week after a taxi driver was killed in Pretoria. This violence is perpetuated by the economic challenges in South Africa and in Africa as well, and results from failures by governments to develop economic policies that grow economies and create jobs. Government interventions in job creation, management of undocumented foreign nationals, and drug control in communities are often poor.”

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) to which IndustriALL affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is also affiliated said:

“SAFTU reiterates that foreign migrants have nothing to do with the expanded unemployment rate of 38 per cent. They have nothing to do with the fact that two thirds of South Africans live in poverty. The inequalities faced by South Africans are not created by poor African and Asian migrants but are manifesting from the capitalist system that divides and exploits the black working class.”

The unions said safety and security is poor as the South African Police Service is failing in its duties to maintain law and order. They said this could be one the reasons why crime is rampant in the country.

The unions also condemned the practice by some employers of preferring undocumented over South African workers. The undocumented workers were paid wages below the minimum wage of ZAR 3,500 (US $230). They said this created conflict between workers.

With sluggish economic growth of 2.8 per cent per annum in Sub Saharan Africa, jobs are hard to come by, with South Africa seen as providing better opportunities than other countries. Efforts currently being made to create jobs on the continent include the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area, among other initiatives.

Photo: © Ihsaan Haffejee, New Frame: 2 September – People run away from the police who tried to disperse a mob attempting to loot migrant owned businesses

Calls to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining in Africa

ASM provides livelihoods to over 10 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and yet is inherently dangerous claiming an incalculable number of lives every year. In June, more than 40 artisanal miners were killed at a mine collapse at Glencore’s cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Formalization will not only improve safety and allow for decriminalization of the activity, but also open the door to opportunities provided by ASM, including new forms of organizing for trade unions.

Speaking at the meeting of trade unions from DRC, Ghana, Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, IndustriALL’s director for mining, Glen Mpufane, said: 

“Recognition of the role of the sector in the mainstream economy by the authorities can lead to a relationship where ASM or informal mining can co-exist with large scale industrial mining. A process of certification that legalizes and integrates ASM into the economy can bring certainty, order and stability to the industry and help remedy the ills of the sector.” 

He added that the multi-stakeholder Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) recommends cooperation between mining companies and ASM. IRMA promotes the exercise of due diligence to stop child and forced labour in the mining supply chain and aims to minimize social and environmental risks.

IndustriALL director for mining, Glen Mpufane

ASM covers informal, subsistence mining by families and individuals, as well as small formal commercial mining operations. While it makes a significant contribution to the economies of the countries where it operates, mostly in the global south, it lacks policy recognition by governments, the mining industry and even trade unions. ASM is consequently pushed to the margins of economic activity, and often considered illegal and criminalized.  

The meeting acknowledged that formalization is a complex process which needs enabling laws and financial support from governments and the mining industry. Further, artisanal and small-scale miners should be given permits, while the rights of women to work in mining should be protected and cultural stigma reduced.

Artisanal mining must be formalized say unions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Legal and policy frameworks ensure the inclusion of health and safety standards, women’s rights and community participation. For instance, community participation helps to prevent conflicts when mining encroaches on agricultural land. 

The meeting heard that formalization also means improving miners’ knowledge on health and safety and environmental issues. The use of mercury in small scale gold mining and its adverse health effects was highlighted.

Trade unions were urged to organize artisanal miners and, as per the International Labour Organization Recommendation 204, can help transition workers from the informal to the formal economy.

A starting point could be through creating forums that include ASM workers. Union constitutions could also be amended to allow for membership. On becoming members, the miners are then integrated into union activities on education, social dialogue and collective bargaining. 

Dr Hibist Kassa presents at the meeting.

Dr Hibist Kassa, ASM researcher from the University of the Witwatersrand, indicated that although artisanal mining is legal in some countries, workers are not given adequate protections:

“The apparent contradictory interventions by the state are underscored by an overriding interest in preserving the dominance of large-scale mining operations.”

She emphasized that formalization is important to ending the criminalization of ASM.

The meeting was supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung’s Trade Union Competence Centre.

Ethiopian and South African unions discuss collective bargaining strategies

According to the unions this is important to the living wage campaign in Ethiopia where garment workers earn low wages of less than US$30 per month. In South Africa, for instance, garment workers earn above the national minimum wage of R3500 (US$230). These wages are from gains in collective bargaining that have been made over time.

 

IndustriALL Global Union affiliates the Industrial Federation of Textile, Leather and Garment Workers Union (IFTLGWU) from Ethiopia and the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) from South Africa, together with the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions, met to map out how social dialogue and collective bargaining can be improved. The international exchange was supported by IndustriALL Sub Saharan Africa region, SACTWU and Mondiaal FNV from the Netherlands.

Although Ethiopia and South Africa have different social dialogue and collective bargaining systems there were common areas where the unions could work together. Similarities between the countries are that the garment and textile sectors are dominated by women workers who constitute more than 80 per cent of the workforce. Therefore, working conditions that cater for women such as maternity benefits and childcare facilities should be accessible at all factories. Further, wages in the sectors are low and should be increased.

 

The unions agreed to cooperate on tactics such as improving negotiations at factory level bargaining through training. Centralized bargaining, which allowed SACTWU to sign collective agreements in clothing, textile, and leather sectors will also be further explored. Currently IFTLGWU negotiates only at the factory level. Participants discussed on how centralized bargaining could be beneficial to IFTLGWU and become part of Ethiopia’s labour laws. IndustriALL’s ACT initiative with garment brands will have a key role in supporting these efforts by ensuring that factories participate and that brand purchasing practices support the development of industry bargaining.

 

Said Andre Kriel, the general secretary of SACTWU:

“We are willing to help our comrades from the IFTLGWU. They can learn from our strategic unionism approach which recognizes collective bargaining, job creation, service to members, and membership growth as important activities for the union. Through international solidarity we will grow together and help each other as trade unions.”

Explaining the importance of the mission, Emebet Eshetu, the Vice President of IFTLGWU, said:

“It’s an opportunity for us to learn from SACTWU especially on how to take our struggle forward. Centralized bargaining is the way to go for the garment and textile sector in Ethiopia. We also need to use information and communication technologies as an organizing tool.”

 

The mission had a meeting with the National Clothing Industry Bargaining Council and visited towel factory, Colibri, and garment factory, House of Monatic.

Workers fear job losses at Glencore cobalt mine

A letter to workers from management stated that the decision to mothball the mine was caused by a drop in cobalt prices on the international market, expensive cost of inputs especially sulphuric acid and increased taxes to mining companies following the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government’s recent amendments to the country’s Mining Code. According to the letter, these factors reduced the economic viability of the mine.

Cobalt prices peaked at US$43 a pound in March 2018 before collapsing to US$11.80 in July, but Glencore’s announcement on Mutanda has seen the prices begin to recover. Cobalt, a biproduct of copper and nickel in mining activities, is used in the manufacture of smartphone and electric vehicle batteries. The DRC produces over 60 per cent of the global cobalt.

At a meeting with workers, management said Mutanda Mine is not shutting down. Neither is Glencore selling the mine nor leaving the DRC. Management also said workers and their families will continue to enjoy benefits from a healthcare provider and that no jobs will be lost during the two years.

However, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates, Secretariat des Syndicats de IndustriALL (CSC) and Travailleurs des Mines, Metallurgies, Energie, Chimie et Industries Connexes (TUMEC) which have members at Mutanda Mine, say the matter is urgent.

Isaac Kiki, chairperson of IndustriALL Lualaba Province, a committee of IndustriALL affiliates, says:

"This is a serious situation which requires us to understand what the law says about the Glencore decision. As trade unions we must use our knowledge and experience to begin strategizing and preparing for negotiating now, so that we are not caught unawares."

Industriall echoes the sentiments of its affiliates in the DRC. In response to the worrying developments, IndustriALL Global Union demanded a priori consultation, consistent with the spirit of the global dialogue agreed with Glencore.

Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director of mining, says:

"The livelihoods of workers should always be a priority when a mine is put on care and maintenance. The risk from demand and supply fluctuations on the cobalt market can be managed without sacrificing mine workers jobs. It is important for Glencore to keep its promise not to retrench the workers, and to find ways to keep the Mutanda Mine operational."

Glencore employs 158,000 workers globally, with 57,000 in Southern Africa.

Unions build unity through collective bargaining training in Madagascar

These are the issues that were discussed at a two-day workshop held on 2-3 August in Fort Dauphin, organized by the United Steelworkers (USW) from Canada and IndustriALL Global Union with support from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF). The workshop fleshed out on what needs to be done by a union to be effective in collective bargaining.

Attended by 26 participants, mostly worker representatives and shop stewards from IndustriALL affiliates Sendika Kristanina Malagasy (Sekrima) and Syndicalisme et Vie des Societes (SVS) with facilitators from USW and IndustriALL, the workshop showed that unions from different continents can work together and exchange learning and knowledge sharing of strategies on collective bargaining.

In the workshop, participants took lessons from the recently concluded negotiations with Rio Tinto's QMM subsidiary and recognized the critical importance of greater communication and engagement with the union members and workers in order to address workers’ needs. This was highlighted as key to achieving stronger collective agreements in the future.

 

Denis Trottier and Guy Gaudette, the USW trainers, shared their experiences on the importance of preparing for negotiations with employers.

“There is need to keep workers updated with information to build support and solidarity in making sure that in the event that the negotiations fail, the workers should decide on the next steps.”

Paule France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa said:

“We are working to bring together our affiliates SVS and Sekrima to work together on collective bargaining strategies. When unions are united, they stand a better chance in negotiations with the employer.”

As part of the project to build union solidarity between the SVS and Sekrima, the SHF will support a shared office for the two unions. The office will receive workers’ grievances and identify workers’ priorities on which the unions can build consensus. From this a list of demands will be made for the next round of negotiations.

The IndustriALL union building project will also contribute to this initiative by supporting organizing drives for both unions.

Union says corruption main cause of Zimbabwe’s power cuts

The level of corruption is so high that services have been crippled. In the few factories that remain open, thousands of jobs are being lost as there is no power to run machinery and equipment. The power utility is also unable to service its over US $20 million debt to South Africa’s Eskom, which has been supplying the country with power.

The Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU), affiliated to IndustriALL Global Union, says corruption has been going on for many years. Said Martin Chikuni, general secretary of ZEWU:

“The corruption can be traced to the time when the power utility was broken into five so-called strategic business units. The semi-autonomous entities, ZESA Holdings, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company, Zimbabwe Power Company, Powertel and ZESA Enterprises seem to have been created to syphon money from the power utility.”

For instance, millions of dollars were spent on unsuitable meters imported from India and money was paid to companies that never delivered.  Equipment at the power stations is old and not regularly maintained.

According to ZEWU, the management at ZESA has neither experience nor expertise on energy issues and failed to plan for the expansion of power production. Further, executives are overpaid, and funds meant for operations diverted to other issues. ZEWU argues that the five entities should be brought back into one. With no research done on renewable energy, the country continues to rely on hydro and thermal energy sources, says the union.

The power utility also ignores collective bargaining agreements it signed with unions and is being challenged for unfair labour practices in the courts. The utility is losing workers with critical skills because of the violations of workers’ rights and failure to pay living wages.

Paule-France Ndessomin, IndustriALL regional secretary for Sub Saharan Africa said:

“It is shocking that power cuts can last for more than 18 hours. We call upon the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to find solutions to deal with the energy crisis in Zimbabwe, and for ZESA to respect the collective agreements and workers’ rights.”

ZEWU is part of the Sub Saharan Africa Energy Network, which is campaigning for sustainable energy that includes energy mix and Just Transition policies. The network is made up of 17 IndustriALL affiliates from 13 countries.