Strike over and another averted in South Africa

Numsa members in the motor component sector achieved a 10 per cent wage increase, with 8 per cent in year two and again in year three. The three year agreement brought to an end the four week long strike on 6 October.

The demand put forward by the NUM in the coal sector was for a 60 per cent wage increase for entry level workers and 15 per cent for skilled workers. The offer made by employers in the Chamber of Mines of 7.5 per cent for entry level workers and 7 per cent for skilled workers was rejected by the NUM and a dispute was declared.

Employers in the coal sector then made individual two year wage increase offers ranging from 11 per cent for entry level workers to 8 per cent for skilled workers, including miners and artisans. If workers did not agree with the revised offer tabled, then a strike would have resulted. After a week of consultation with members, the NUM accepted the offers at the end of September and the strike was averted.

Unions mobilize around the world against precarious work

Unions around the world have joined IndustriALL’s global campaign to STOP Precarious Work. As reports, photos and videos of actions come pouring in, IndustriALL has set up a campaign page dedicated to reporting on actions taken all around the world.

From Chile to Croatia and from Finland to Madagascar workers voices are being heard loud and clear.  Workers have taken to the streets in Peru, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and many other countries.

In Peru dozens of textile and garment workers, members of IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, the National Federation of Textile Workers (FNTTP), marched through Lima city centre on 4 October.

In Thailand more than 3000 workers from the Confederation of Industrial Labour of Thailand (CILT), the State Enterprise Unions Confederation (SERC), Thai Labour Solidarity Committee and the migrant workers network and the informal sector network, marched to the Government House demanding the ratification of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and labour law reform that adheres to international labour standards.

In Madagascar at Rio Tinto operations at Fort-Dauphin, workers and members of the Fédération des Syndicats des Travailleurs de l’Energie et des Mines (FISEMA),  in the midst of their struggle on the settlement of the mass dismissals in the plant distributed flyers on 7 October to mark the World Day for Decent Work .

Elsewhere, unions raised awareness of the issues with their members, debated union responses to precarious work and sent letters to their governments demanding action.

In Cambodia, IndustriALL Global Union affiliates of the South East Asia Region met to develop their strategies for 2014 to fight Precarious Work.

If your union has taken action around 7 October, but your actions don’t appear on IndustriALL’s STOP Precarious Work campaign page, then send them to: [email protected]. You can also tweet using the hashtag #STOPprecariousWork or share your actions with us on facebook.

Somalia Actions

On 7 October, an affiliate of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU), , and its affiliated trade unions commemorated the World Day for Decent Work 2013 in demanding decent work for all and decent salaries for workers.

In a one-day workshop held in the conference hall of FESTU headquarters in Mogadishu, union leaders and organizers collectively voiced that Somali workers deserve to enjoy fair terms of employment, decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace, social security and health care. 25 union representatives from ten industrial unions demanded that the federal government to pass the minimum wages bill in order for Somali workers to gain their rightful entitlement to decent wages.

The workshop welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister of Somalia that the decent work country programme for Somalia will be concluded and implemented, but participants stressed the for these words to be turned into concrete actions.

“We want to see work done on workers’ demands regardless of mere words of promises,” said Omar Faruk Osman, FESTU General Secretary. “Somali people need employment to sustain. However, the employment has to be in decent working conditions ensuring worker rights.”

FESTU members collectively demanded the federal government to create employment for unemployed Somalis, particularly youths who are migrating from the country. Unemployment in Somalia is a major source of instability and threat to sound progress in the country.

“Let us join hands with the workers of the entire world in commemorating this Day with fervour and dedication to secure decent work in our nation" said Faruk Osman, FESTU General Secretary.

Powering up the Southern African Energy Network

36 participants representing unions organizing workers in the energy sector constitute the Southern Africa Energy Network (SAEN). The meeting of the group was sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and IndustriALL Global Union.

A central goal of SAEN is to have influence on the regional energy delivery landscape by pushing for the inclusion of labour issues in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) where key discussions take place. SAPP was created in 1995 by SADC countries and is aimed at providing reliable and economical electricity to the consumers of its member states while considering reasonable use of natural resources and the effect on the environment.

At the meeeting the participants agreed that SEAN could influence the inclusion of the labour issues in SAPP agenda only thorugh the coordinated cooperation among energy sector unions in Southern Africa.

SAEN meeting particpants resolved that research was needed to support the work of the network, as well as discussed and agreed upon the concepts of mapping the industrial relations landscape in the energy sector in the region. Labor Research Service (LRS) represented by Michelle Taal has been commissioned to do the mapping and research.

Participants reflected on the achievements of the network in 2012, in particular coming together to give solidarity support to the Zimbabwe Electricity Workers Union (ZEWU) throughout the ordeal of the suspension of 135 workers at the state owned utility ZESA, all of whom have now been reinstated with the exception of the union’s president, Angeline Chitambo. ZEWU continues to fight the dismissal.

Participants also received reports on the work that has been done to strengthen energy unions NESAWU in Zambia and SINTIME in Mozambique. Capacity building is an important area of work for the network and participants recommitted to building self sustainability.

Decisions were taken on campaign areas for 2014, to address precarious work in the sector and call for a living wage.  A campaign would also be carried out aimed at giving workers in the energy sector the right to strike, denied to energy workers in these countries as they are considered to be performing an essential service.  

One strike off one strike on for Numsa

On Friday 27 September, Numsa announced an end to the strike of its members in the fuel retail sector after an agreement was reached on a 11.6 per cent increase for this year, and 9 per cent increases for 2014 and 2015, up from an initial offer of 7 per cent made by employers.

Numsa had announced two strikes simultaneously with 70,000 members downing tools. The second strike is in the motor sector that includes workers in motor retail and auto components manufacture. Members have rejected the revised offer from employers of 9 per cent and are continuing to hold out for a double digit wage increase.

Somali unions face intimidation, death threats and bombs

FETSU’s ten affiliated trade unions participated at the meeting on 28 September, which was held at the federation’s head office in Mogadishu. The meeting had been called to exchange views and consult about the increasing number of threats and attempts to destabilize the federation. Politically motivated, the attacks, including specific death threats, appear to be intended to intimidate and threaten FESTU and its elected leadership.

The very real threat under which trade unions in Somalia operate was made blatantly clear with the discovery of a bomb planted outside the headquarters. The bomb was subsequently removed without any damage and handed over to the police.

Despite the bomb, the meeting went ahead and the unions unanimously agreed to a declaration. Protests have been lodged with the Federal Police Commissioner, the Prime Minister of Somalia and the Minister of Interior & National Security.

At present, IndustriALL Global Union has no affiliated trade unions in Somalia, but is in detailed discussions with FETSU over the creation of a new oil and gas workers union. FESTU is the first independent and democratic trade union centre in the country, and the current situation highlights the importance to assist them in their struggles.

IndustriALL Global Union join the call of FESTU and its member unions, that all people unite against the elements behind these attacks, as well as on the government to take decisive action to protect the people. The unions have pledged to campaign to the last ounce of their energies against on-going intimidation and harassment of labour leaders and members.  IndustriALL Global Union strongly commends and salutes their determination to continue to fight for workers rights and a living wage for the workers of Somalia.

Swaziland unions merge for unity and strength

The merger included IndustriALL affiliates, the Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Unions (Satu); Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied workers Unions (Smawu) and the Swaziland Processing, Refinery and Allied Workers Union (Sprawu). Atuswa represents workers in textile, garment, metalworkers, engineering, mining and quarrying as well as retail, hospitality and catering

The merger took forward a resolution of the newly merged federation, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (Tucoswa) to reduce its affiliates from 28 to 3 through merger processes. The merger process has been supported by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) that has been working with the unions for over a year towards the merger.  The process was also supported by IndustriALL and received solidarity support from other countries.

The congress adopted a progressive constitution that has key elements of worker control and accountability. Delegates mandated Atuswa to take forward key demands at the workplace and to engage stakeholders in the country including government to establish a minimum wage and a ban on labour brokers.

The merger congress took place at the same time as the annual global week of action for democracy in Swaziland. Failure to get any of the planned actions off the ground including a panel organized by ITUC to hear experiences of workers, which were suppressed by the government and emphasized the need for unity amongst workers and continued solidarity support in Swaziland.

Swaziland union merge for unity and strength

IndustriALL affiliates, the Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Unions (Satu); Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied workers Unions (Smawu) and the Swaziland Processing, Refinery and Allied Workers Union (Sprawu) came together to form the new union, Atsuwa. The merger process was supported by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and IndustriALL Global Union. Atsuwa now represents workers in textile, garment, metalworkers, engineering, mining and quarrying as well as retail, hospitality and catering.

The merger took forward a resolution of the newly merged federation, the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (Tucoswa,) to reduce its affiliates from 28 to 3 through merger processes. The congress adopted a progressive constitution that has key elements of worker control and accountability. Delegates mandated Atuswa to take forward key demands at the workplace and to engage stakeholders in the country including government to establish a minimum wage and a ban on labour brokers.

The merger congress took place at the same time as the annual global week of action for democracy in Swaziland. Failure to get any of the planned actions off the ground, which were suppressed by the government, including an event organized by ITUC to hear experiences of workers, emphasized the need for unity amongst workers and continued solidarity support in Swaziland.

Back to back strikes continue in South Africa

Employers in the Gold sector rapidly came to the negotiating table with an improved offer, after the National Union of Mineworkers mobilised 80,000 gold miners on a strike action starting 3 September after wage talks reached a deadlock. The strike ended within days with agreements reached on a company by company basis and formalised in a signing ceremony at the Chamber of Mines on 10 September.

Gold mining workers agreed to a settlement of 8 per cent increase for the lowest paid workers and 7.5 per cent for the rest. Inflation linked increases were also agreed to for 2014. Workers will also receive Euro 15 a month increase on their living out allowances in the first year which will be increased by a further Euro 15 in the second.

30,000 auto sector workers organised by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa ended the strike after employers including BMW, Toyota and VW revised their offer from 7 per cent to 11.5 per cent. The strike that started on 19 August went on for three weeks as workers refused the 10 per cent offer brought to them during the strike, sending Numsa back to the negotiation table.

Numsa also agreed to a 10 per cent increase for auto workers in the second year and again in the third year as well as a Euro 100 transport allowance a year, a Euro 62 monthly housing allowance and 70 per cent contribution to medical aid by employers.

As one strike came to an end, another began for Numsa, this time in the motor sector as 70,000 workers have downed tools on 9 September, after a deadlock in negotiations with employer bodies the Retail Motor Industry and the Fuel Retailers’ Association. Workers have rejected a 7 per cent wage offer and are demanding a double digit salary increase and an improvement of afternoon shift and night shift allowance.  

Whilst employers have complained about the cost of the strikes to companies and the economy, South African workers and their unions have found it necessary to put up a fight for better wages in the face of increasing cost of living and have come out victorious.

Suppression of democracy campaign activities in Swaziland

There was a heavy police presence at the venue of the inquiry organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as part of the global week of action for democracy and worker rights in Swaziland.  The panel was to take submissions from workers about conditions in Swaziland and present their findings to the world. Police prevented the inquiry from taking place saying the event was inappropriate as 6 September, Independence Day should be a day of celebration.

Naidoo and several others including  Central Methodist Church Bishop Paul Verryn and Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC)'s Paliani Chinguwo were also held were detained at a road block and taken in for questioning the day before and later released. 

Also on 5 September, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (Tucoswa), Vincent Ncongwane, was arrested and taken In for questioning. He was then placed under house arrest for attempting to stage an illegal protest. Tucoswa insists that protocol was followed and government has informed of the planned mass action which did not take place.

This blatant suppression of human rights has taken place days after King Mswati says he received a vision that his absolute monarchy should now officially be called a monarchial democracy. Critics suspect this is an attempt to confuse people on democratic rights with parliamentary elections in the absolute monarchy taking place later this month. 

It has been 45 years since independence from colonial rule in Swaziland and 40 years of a state of emergency which Mswati has used to deny Swazi people democratic rights. Swaziland is one of the poorest countries in the world.  Over 60 per cent of the population live in abject poverty and the unemployment rate is at 28.5 per cent. There is no press freedom or independent judiciary.  Political parties are banned. Democratic institutions and trade unions are under constant attack and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland is still de-registered in order to prevent the unification of workers.