Struggle Africa

A person could wish that while great events are happening, other things are suspended, but it is more likely that the reverse will be the case. The SACCAWU Shoprite dispute is still going on. The SATAWU contract cleaners dispute is still going on. Some of the other things tat are happening in South Africa and nearby are reflected in the six documents linked below. The SACP held a press conference yesterday to announce the details of the 2006 Red October Transport Campaign and the broad support that it has already gathered. In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe announced the extension of his term of office by two years, to 2010, while at the same time encouraging his police thugs by commending them on the assault the made on ZCTU trade unionists fifteen days ago. COSATU in the Western Cape has stood up for an agreed kind of democratic process, as against arbitrary administrative change without consultation to reverse the result of an election. Moving the goalposts after an election is not acceptable to the workers. Judge Edwin Cameron used to be though progressive, but is really very conventional in his opinions. When in doubt, he supports the bosses, it seems. How are workers to deal with employers who will take cases so high up the appeal ladder until they find a Cameron to oblige them with a reversal of a CCMA ruling? POPCRU approves of the latest police rearrangements in South Africa. Their Press Release does not tell us much else, however – such as, precisely what are these new arrangements, as distinct from the old? On a good note, COSATU’s Jobs and Poverty Campaign appears to be generating some results, if we believe the figures given by Stats SA. Click on these links: SACP on 2006 Red October transport campaign consultative (934 words) Assaulted unionists deserve beating, Mugabe, SABC News (412 words) Now COSATU slams Dyantyi, Essop and Dentlinger, IOL (818 words) CCMA overruled by Judge Edwin Cameron, IOL (413 words) POPCRU, Developments in SAPS have our blessing (266 words) Unemployment rate down, Stats SA, Business Report (597 words)