Transport Workers Solidarity Committee

SA Western Cape-based Transport and Omnibus Workers’ Union On Strike For Health And Safety And Proper Work Conditions

A BLEAK 2010 OUTLOOK FOR LABOUR

From a labour viewpoint, there is little to celebrate with the arrival of the 2010. The pending World Cup, the announcement of booming minerals sales to China and the various blips and surges on global Stock Exchanges do not signal joy to workers and their organisations.

More unemployment, greater levels of casualisation, more downward pressure on wages and the demand for more output from fewer personnel are what seem to be in store, overall. Locally, and even before the World Cup gets underway in June, the first effects will have been felt by the small army of casual labourers who helped build the stadiums around the country. By the end of March, the last of them will probably be out of work.

And while mining companies cheer at the increase in sales of iron ore and other minerals to China, there is a growing awareness in trade union circles that this means further job losses down the line: a proportion of the iron ore, for example, will return to South Africa as finished steel products, undercutting what local industry can produce. For years the unions — and some local employers — have raised warnings about the consequences of such sales.

Road transport unions in South Africa are fighting precarious work practices through their collective agreements
http://www.itfglobal.org/transport-international/ti36success.cfm

Road to success

Road transport unions in South Africa are fighting precarious work practices through their collective agreements, writes Jan Theron

In 2000, “R” started working for ITR Recruitment as a crew member on a truck. In 2007 he was employed as a driver. He is now regarded as “permanent”. As “permanent”, he is supposed to work a full week, as opposed to the temporary workers, who often do not. Yet there is nothing “permanent” about what he and the other workers do, delivering products for the local flour and maize mill. ITR does not have any other contract in the town where R is based. So all the workers depend on the mill for their livelihood.

A driver for South Africa’s Super Group: worker or small business person?
This mill is in turn part of SASKO, a larger group that owns a variety of food manufacturing plants. Previously the group had transport divisions at its plants, distributing all its products. Then in the 1990s, it introduced owner-driver schemes. In terms of these schemes, drivers were “converted” to owners of the trucks. Instead of receiving a wage, these owner-drivers were paid per load (tonnage) delivered.

SA Transport and Omnibus Workers Union Towu Fights For Health And Safety On Busses
UNIONS FIGHT FOR MUCH MORE THAN PAY-SA Transport and Omnibus Workers Union Towu Fights For Health And Safety On Busses

Strikes are the last resort and the only powerful weapon in the armoury of the sellers of labour. And it is only when the aptly labelled gatvol factor comes into play that frustrated workers down tools and take to the streets and picket lines.

These facts should be borne in mind as the current levels of industrial anger rise. It should also not be forgotten that protesting workers, be they doctors, nurses or manual labourers, often take action as much in the interests of the community at large as in the size of their pay packets.

But the size of pay packets also has a bearing on the wellbeing of many communities. As the labour movement has noted, employed workers comprise the country’s major — and unofficial — social welfare net, each worker supporting, on average, eight dependents.

Now, with capital in crisis and unemployment growing, there are predictable demands from employers to hold back wage rises, scrap minimum wage agreements and even weaken or ignore unions. Such actions add to the levels of worker frustration and can result in bitter eruptions.

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union Strike Of 20,000 Long Distance Truckers Continues

http://bushradionews.blogspot.com/2009/04/stawu-strike-continues-for-day-two.html

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 08, 2009
Satawu strike continues for day two
By Mandisi Tyulu
8 April 2009

Satawu marchers in Salt River
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union and the Road Freight Employers' Association failed to reach agreement about salaries yesterday and long distance truckers will continue their strike today.

RFEA spokesperson Magretia Brown says they had received reports of pickets and strikes around the country yesterday but nothing major.

Satawu’s Randall Howard says today the union will resume talks with employers although yesterday’s talks failed.

“The strike will continue today until the matter is resolved,'' says Howard.

Israeli Shipping Line Zim Tries To Sneak Into South African Port For Offloading Cargo-Thwarted By SATAWU Dockers
http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/2009/feb/press13.htm

Media Release: Victory for worker solidarity
Issued by Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC)
6 February 2009

The Congress of South African Trade Union is pleased to announce that its members, dock workers belonging to the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) achieved a victory last night when they stood firm by their decision not to offload the Johanna Russ, a ship that was carrying Israeli goods to South Africa. This, despite threats to COSATU members from sections of the pro-Israeli lobby, and despite severe provocation.

The Johanna Russ, flying an Antigua flag, is owned by M. Dizengoff and Co., an established "pioneer of the modern era of shipping business in the Middle East" and shipping agent for the ironically named Zim Israel Navigation Company. (Ironic because, last year, the same SATAWU members refused to offload the Chinese ship An Yue Jiang, which was carrying arms and ammunition destined for Robert Mugabe's army.)

SA SATAWU Dock workers to boycott Israeli ship

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-02-03-dock-workers-to-boycott-israeli-ship

Dock workers to boycott Israeli ship
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA Feb 03 2009 15:43

Durban dock workers are expected to refuse to offload an Israeli ship as part of a week of action against "apartheid" Israel, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) said on Tuesday.

Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven and PSC spokesperson Salim Vally said dock workers would refuse to offload the ship arriving on Sunday, February 8, as part of a refusal to support oppression and exploitation across the globe.

South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) general secretary Randall Howard said the union's members were committed to not handling Israeli goods.

Last year, Durban dock workers refused to offload a shipment of arms from China that was destined for Zimbabwe.

The arms would have been used to "prop up the Mugabe regime and to intensify the repression against the Zimbabwean people", Craven said.

"In 1963, just four years after the anti-apartheid movement was formed, Danish dock workers refused to offload a ship with South African goods.

Media Statement: Cosatu and PSC launch Week of Action for
Palestine-Embargoed until 11H00, 3rd February Media Conference, Cosatu
House, 3 February 2009

In a historic development for South Africa, South African dock workers have
announced their determination not to offload a ship from Israel that is
scheduled to dock in Durban on Sunday, 8 February 2009. This follows the
decision by Cosatu to strengthen the campaign in South Africa for boycotts,
divestment and sanctions against Apartheid Israel.

The pledge by Satawu (South African Transport and Allied Workers Union)
members in Durban reflects the commitment by South African workers to refuse
to support oppression and exploitation across the globe. Last year, Durban
dock workers refused to offload a shipment of arms that had arrived from
China and was destined for Zimbabwe. Now, says Satawu's General Secretary
Randall Howard, the union's members are committing themselves not to handle
Israeli goods.

Satawu's action on Sunday will be part of a proud history of worker
resistance against apartheid. In 1963, just four years after the
Anti-Apartheid Movement was formed, Danish dock workers refused to offload a

BBC NEWS, Friday, 18 April 2008

A Chinese ship carrying arms destined for Zimbabwe is reported to have left the South African port of Durban four days after failing to unload.

Earlier, a South African judge ruled that the cargo of rocket-propelled grenades, mortar rounds and ammunition could not be transported overland.

Human rights groups had petitioned for a block on the arms and dockers had refused to unload the shipment.

Some fear Zimbabwe will use the arms to repress political opposition.

The country has yet to publish the results of its presidential election on 29 March, which the MDC opposition says was won outright by its candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

President Robert Mugabe denounced the opposition on Friday in his first speech since the election, saying "thieves" were trying to steal the country.

Incommunicado

According to the South African news agency Sapa, the ship upped anchor between 1800 (1600 GMT) and 1900 (1700 GMT).

The ship's master, who earlier identified himself as Captain Sunaijun, could not be reached by telephone, the agency added, quoting anonymous sources.

By Philippe Naughton, and Jane Macartney in Beijing - The Times (of London), April 18, 2008

South African dockers are refusing to unload a Chinese cargo ship carrying 77 tonnes of small arms destined for Zimbabwe

The arms, including three million rounds of ammunition suitable for AK47s and 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades, were ordered by the Zimbabwean military at the time of the March 29 election – which Britain and other Western powers have accused Robert Mugabe of trying to rig

The arms arrived at Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday aboard the Chinese-owned An Yue Jiang and must be taken by road to landlocked Zimbabwe, where the Government has been accused of arming rural militias before a possible run-off vote for the presidency. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has even accused Mr Mugabe's Zanu (PF) of preparing for a "war" against the people

January Masilela, the South African Defence Secretary, said yesterday that the shipment had been approved this week by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), which he chairs. "This is a normal transaction between two sovereign states and we don't have to interfere," he said