Transport Workers Solidarity Committee

SATAWU Condemns the ISRAELI Act of International Piracy And US Damage Control For Israeli Crimes And Calls For Full Boycott Of Handling Of Israeli Goods
http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?include=docs/pr/2010/pr0604d.html&ID=3434&cat=COSATU TodaySATAWU
SATAWU Condemns the ISRAELI Act of International Piracy
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union condemns the attack on aid ships launched by the Israeli state. This last act of Israeli state sponsored murder left nine people dead and many others injured.

The attack which took place in international waters is nothing less than an act of international piracy.
The ships were carrying aid to the beleaguered peoples of in Gaza. This attack and Israel’s continued closure of the border has worsened the appalling conditions that those who live in Gaza are forced to endure.
We salute the Swedish dock workers for their blockade of all Israeli ships.

We call for an escalation of the boycott of Israeli goods and call upon our fellow trade unionists not to handle them.
We call upon our members not to allow any Israeli ship to dock or unload in any South African port.

Whilst welcoming the recall of the South African Ambassador to Israel we demand that our government now cut all diplomatic ties with this murderous regime.

Palestinian Trade Union Movement Calls on International Dockworkers Unions to Block Loading/Offloading Israeli Ships

http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/712
Palestinian Trade Union Movement Calls on International Dockworkers Unions to Block Loading/Offloading Israeli Ships
Posted by BNC Palestine on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 13:13
Palestinian Trade Union Movement Calls on International Dockworkers Unions to Block Loading/Offloading Israeli Ships Until Israel Complies Fully with International Law and Ends its Illegal Siege of Gaza
June 7, 2010- The Palestinian trade union movement, as a key constituent member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) calls on dockworkers' unions worldwide to block Israeli maritime trade in response to Israel’s massacre of humanitarian relief workers and activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla, until Israel complies with international law and ends its illegal blockade of Gaza. Drunk with power and impunity, Israel has ignored recent appeals by the UN Secretary General as well as a near consensus among world governments to end its siege, putting the onus on international civil society to shoulder the moral responsibility of holding Israel accountable to international law and ending its criminal impunity. Dockworkers around the world have historically contributed to the struggle against injustice, most notably against the apartheid regime in South Africa, when port workers unions refused to load/offload cargo on/from South African ships as a most effective way of protesting the apartheid regime.

SA SATAWU Condemns The Israeli Act Of International Privacy And Protests Failure Of US Government To Take Action Against Attack

SATAWU CONDEMNS THE ISRAELI ACT OF INTERNATIONAL PIRACY

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union condemns the attack on aid ships launched by the Israeli state. This last act of Israeli state sponsored murder left nine people dead and many others injured.

The attack which took place in international waters is nothing less than an act of international piracy.

The ships were carrying aid to the beleaguered peoples of in Gaza. This attack and Israel’s continued closure of the border has worsened the appalling conditions that those who live in Gaza are forced to endure.

We salute the Swedish dock workers for their blockade of all Israeli ships.

We call for an escalation of the boycott of Israeli goods and call upon our fellow trade unionists not to handle them.

We call upon our members not to allow any Israeli ship to dock or unload in any South African port.

Whilst welcoming the recall of the South African Ambassador to Israel we demand that our government now cut all diplomatic ties with this murderous regime.

We welcome the worldwide condemnation of this act of piracy but note with alarm the failure of the American government once again to take decisive action against Israel.

Indefinite Transport Workers' Strike in South Africa
http://libcom.org/news/indefinite-transport-workers-strike-south-africa-15052010
Indefinite Transport Workers' Strike in South Africa

Submitted by Django on May 15 2010 08:34
tags: distribution docks rail South Africa transport

Transport workers in South Africa have been on strike since the 10th of May. Major South African exports, including fruit, metals and wine have sat idle in warehouses following the walkouts of railway and port workers.

The strike has involved some 50,000 workers, including members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), the South African Railways and Harbour Workers' Union and the United Transport and Allied Trade Union. The workers are in dispute with Transnet Ltd., South Africa's largest rail and port operator and freight logistics company.

The walkout was announced following the failure of pay negotiations with management, with an official demand of a 15% pay rise in opposition to management's offer of 11%. Duncan Speilman, a Satawu shop steward, commented “Management is offering a conditional 11 per cent. That is unacceptable for our members. The way forward is that we will keep on engaging. We won’t stop engaging. But the strike will go on until our demand of 15 per cent is met. You can’t compromise on 15 per cent at this time. Over the years there has been a growing gap between the salaries of management and junior employees and we can’t compromise this time around.”

Thousands of South African Transport Workers Strike
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703880304575236123647729644.html
BUSINESSMAY 10, 2010, 10:13 A.M. ET
Thousands of South African Workers Strike
By ROBB M. STEWART

JOHANNESBURG—Thousands of South African port, freight-rail and pipeline workers began an indefinite strike Monday at state-owned Transnet Ltd., which is responsible for the movement of coal, iron ore and other commodities.

The pay dispute comes about one month before the expected arrival of roughly 300,000 soccer fans for the start of the World Cup, the first time the tournament has been hosted by an African country.

Protests have already been marred by incidents of violence, and Transnet spokesman John Dludlu said 12 people were injured and six taken to hospital after police fired rubber bullets at a crowd of picketers that forced its way onto the company's premises in Durban, attacking subcontractors at work.

Mr. Dludlu said the company has briefed its lawyers to apply for an urgent court order against the striking union to ensure employees and assets are protected, and that Transnet will press criminal charges against those responsible for the violence.

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

Bush Radio 89.5 fm is the Mother of Community Radio in Africa. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Bush Radio exists with the sole purpose to uplift, develop and educate the communities it serves. To find out more about Bush Radio go to www.bushradio.co.za, where you can also listen on-line. Please share your comments on our news: feedback@bushradio.co.za
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.)