General Materials
Item set
- Title
- General Materials
- Alternative Title
- LRS General Materials
- Creator
- Labour Research Service (LRS)
Items
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COSATU noting the unfolding education crisis within the Western Cape has called for a stayaway of all of its members and supporters in the Western Cape in support of its demand for measures that will guarantee quality public education, should the Provincial Government fail to meet the demands detailed. -
The democratic South Africa was birthed through negotiation and dialogue, and a range of socio-economic policy matters continue to be determined on this basis. Social dialogue that focuses on policy, legislation and generally advancing the best interests of society takes place between organised labour, business and government on regular basis in a range of statutory and non-statutory tripartite forums. -
The Transvaal Provincial Administration, the Alexandra Civic Organisation and the Alexandra City Council have signed an agreement called the Alexandra Accord. This agreement commits the parties to the development of Alexandra and ends the rent and services boycott. The Alexandra Accord also sets up a Joint Negotiating Forum (JNF) to find ways to solve the problems in Alexandra. The other members of the JNF are: the Central Witwatersrand Regional Services Council, the Sandton Town Council, the Randburg Town Council, Eskom, the Rand Water Board and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. This book explains the story behind the Accord and gives the residents of Alexandra information about the JNF. We hope that you will share this publication with other residents, discuss it with your friends and read it to those who cannot read. VIVA ALEXANDRA! -
This summary is intended primarily for unionists who want to get an overview of key substantive features of the new Labour Relations Act (LRA) that will most probably take effect in April or May next year. -
The type of meetings we have in mind are general members' meetings with more than ten people in attendance. These notes are relevant where you have an opportunity to think beforehand about what you are going to say and to spend some time on preparation. Sometimes you may have to speak 'on the spur of the moment' in response to information, a statement or an event. In these circumstances, you should try to get your thoughts together before you speak, rather than simply 'thinking out loud'. The most important point about the 'spur of the moment' type of situation is to say what's on your mind. Don't leave it to someone else. These 'spontaneous' contributions to meetings can be very effective. People usually can recognise when someone is speaking 'from the heart'! Sincerity, honesty and conviction are much more important for effective speaking than 'polish' and presentation. Hundreds of books have been written and millions of pounds 'earned' telling people how to get their message across. While good presentation can help, for the trade union movement what people say is more important than how they say it. A speech is effective if the audience remembers most of the points made by the speaker. -
At present, profit sharing does not fit into the philosophy of any trade unions in South Africa. It is not a part of the policy of any union I know about. Where profit sharing schemes exist and are accepted by the unions, this is because of special circumstances. This talk is in three parts: First, I will explain where my union, the National Union of Mineworkers, has accepted profit sharing schemes and why it has done so. Secondly, I will outline the different levels of agreements that we have negotiated on profit sharing and the principles we have agreed should govern such schemes Thirdly, I will speak of the implementation of the schemes, and their potential for providing a basis for greater worker participation in the enterprises which have negotiated profit sharing agreements. -
THIS IS INFORMATION MATERIAL CONCERNING STUDIES IN STUDY CIRCLES. IT IS AIMED, PRIMARILY, AT BEING A GUIDE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY TAKEN PART IN SUCH STUDIES. THE MATERIAL WAS PREPARED BY THE IUF EDUCATION SECRETARIES JOINTLY WITH PARTICIPANTS IN THE IUF STUDY CIRCLE LEADERS' SEMINAR IN THE PHILIPPINES, IN AUTUMN 1981. THE MATERIAL GIVES A THOROUGH INTRODUCTION OF THE STUDY CIRCLE METHOD. IT ALSO DEALS WITH THE ROLE OF THE CIRCLE LEADER AND THE PARTICIPANT AS WELL AS THE REQUIREMENTS OF MATERIAL "DESIGNâ€. -
The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was developed by the African National Congress (ANC) prior to entering government. The RDP was developed as an integrated and coherent socio-economic policy framework aimed at transforming South African society. Within this framework the ANC, as the majority party in the Government of National Unity (GNU), undertook to develop detailed policy positions and a legislative programme. -
Historically, access to marine resources was unrestricted. In order to facilitate the monopolisation of the fishing resource by a few white companies, a system of quotas was introduced. In this way many black fisher folk lost the access rights they had had for generations. At the present time, the fishing industry is completely biased in favour of a few large and medium sized white companies. This is illustrated by the fact that just three (3) companies hold : • 72% of the hake quota; • 75% of the abalone quota, and • 71 % of the sole quota Overall, across all species, approximately nine tenths (9/10) of the resource is controlled by a hand-full of companies. Since 1994, some of these companies have attempted to blacken their faces. They have also sold minority shares to some black business consortia. Further, a few members of the black elite have been given quotas. None of the above amounts to any kind of restructuring. None of the historic imbalances have been addressed. The above have merely been attempts to confuse the issue and to frustrate any process that attempts to restructure the industry. -
The headings of the clauses in this agreement are for the purpose of convenience and reference only and shall not be used in the interpretation of nor modify nor amplify the terms of this agreement for any clause hereof. -
The response to the first issue of SPREAD-IT was encouraging - to say the least. Not only did we find people reading it during centre staff meetings and during NCC debates, but we believe it has set a trend - the NWC is now also compliling a bulletin of news! Well, our spreading function is certainly becoming infectious - which, of course, was our intention. We even ran out of copies. -
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In circumstances in which the breach of a rule or failure to meet a required standard is not serious enough to warrant a final written warning or dismissal, the appropriate Local Chairperson, Regional Secretary or General Secretary may issue a verbal warning or first written warning after discussion with and counselling of the official. -
This policy shall be binding on all NUMSA staff who qualify for travel allowances/payment for the use of their motor vehicles in execution of their duties, which shall include but not be limited to: attending factories, workshops; taking members home after meetings; organising workers. Travel between home and office shall not be deemed to be travel on union business. This policy can only be changed or amended by a Central Committee meeting or a National Congress. The rate of compensation shall be reviewed from time to time. -
This pamphlet provides an outline of those features of the Local Government transition process, with which workers will have to deal. -
Low wages are a cause of poverty. They are unjust and they lead to economic inefficiency. Low pay is not the result of "market forces" or of individual productivity. It is the result of the vulnerability of certain sectors of the workforce and the cost structure of low-wage industries. A National Minimum Wage is a practical solution that has been adopted in many countries. It is one of the demands of the Freedom Charter. The National Minimum Wage can be developed by COSATU as a powerful campaign tool in the fight for a living wage . The National Campaigns Conference, held in May 1990, asked the Living Wage Working Croup "to establish what National Minimum Wage should be suggested to develop a program of action to achieve a National Minimum Wage". The conference agreed that the level of the National Minimum Wage will be decided at the second National Campaigns Conference in August 1990. This reader pulls together all the documents and resolutions that have guided the Living Wage Working Group in its work on the National Minimum Wage. -
As this edition of Work In Progress was going to print the state effectively banned 17 organisations and an undisclosed number of individuals, and severely restricted the Congress of South African Trade Unions. By doing this the government of State President PW Botha has escalated its ongoing war against the people of South and Southern Africa. Precisely why the state chose to act this way at this time is not clear. Visible resistance to apartheid in the townships has declined under the burden of emergency rule, and popular political and community organisation has been severely weakened. One possibility is that government is attempting to limit the massive resistance expected against the October local government elections, including the boycott call made by a number of those organisations effected by the latest clampdown. But whatever the reason, there remains no excuse whatsoever for believing that 'reformers' within the state hold any power. If the distinction between 'militarists' and 'reformers' is real, then the militarists have so obviously won ascendency that talk of 'reformers' wielding influence in government is absurd. There is even less excuse for those elements which stubbornly hold to the belief that the Botha administration has a reform programme. There is no doubt that it has plans to change the face of South Africa. So did the Nationalist government of Verwoerd. But it was never suggested that this involved 'reform'. Change can be for the worse - and this is what the changes being made by Botha's militarists involve. South Africa is a society at war. Government is at war with the majority of South Africans and Namibians, with the Angolan nation, and with the majority of frontline states. In Natal, it seems unwilling or unable to use the might of its laws against the vigilante perpetrators of a bloody and enduring civil war. On the labour front, its proposed amendment to the Labour Relations Act, combined with emergency restrictions on Cosatu, aim to close down trade union organisation or render it impotent. This war against the working class has another side, seen in Botha's new economic deal, the wage freeze and moves to privatise substantial areas of the public sector. Many of the articles in this issue of WIP deal with facets of this war - from the ANC's armed struggle to Botha's economic war against the working class; from the Maritzburg civil war to allegations of riot police on the rampage in townships. Government's 24 February banning of organisations and individuals, and the restrictions on Cosatu activity, must be seen in this context of a society at war with itself. -
I saw a badly injured and handcuffed man pushed down the stairs of Cosatu House in central Johannesburg during this week's police siege. After hitting the bottom of the stairs head first with a dull thud, he lay still. A young policeman moved up to him and hit him once on the rib with rubber pick-handle. The man didn't stir. He was dragged on the ground to a police truck before being thrown in head first. -
At the Cosatu National Congress, a debate around the issue of globalisation erupted. At the core of the debate was whether the federation was opposed to globalisation or not. Some unions fell that as a federation we should be opposed to globalisation and all what it represents. Others felt that we should be opposed not to globalisation but its negative effects or the current form of globalisation. -
This workshop is designed to give you a reliable introduction the Employment Equity Act. It is based on hard information and on ACTIVITIES or discussion exercises that will help you to understand how the Act works, who it covers, and what the implications are for trade unionists. Each of the Activities is complemented with information that will help you to understand the Act in more detail. Sections have been added to help you find further information, and to understand the terms that are used in the Act itself. In a two day programme, you are not going to be an 'expert' on the Employment Equity Act, but we hope that you will feel more confident about using the Act, especially in ensuring that it is used to address a wide range of discriminatory practices at the workplace. As with most legislation, the more that you begin to use it, the more its strengths and weaknesses will emerge. It is very important that any weaknesses in the practical application of the Act are reported through your Union to the Federation. This will help the Federation to campaign for improvements in the legislation, and to close any loopholes that allow employers to avoid their responsibilities. -
Having studied and extensively discussed the new child support and benefit system as agreed by cabinet on 5 March 1997, the CWIU Western Cape Women's Committee at its seminar held on 5-6 April 1997, noted j:tee following: 1) That the pSC-cess leading up to this development was not transparent and democratic despite its far-reaching consequences for the poorest sections of our people. 2) That the new system is designed to meet the requirements set by the government's economic strategy - Growth Employment and Redistibution (GEAR) for "fiscal restraint" and reducing the budget deficit and not meeting the needs of the majority of South Africans. This economic strategy of the government is in itself its response to the demands of local and international capital and not in line with the promise of "A better life for all" as embodied in the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and the new constitution which states the right for all "to have access to social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependents, appropriate social assistance". 3) That certain assumptions are made regarding the requirements of families, specifically women and their unsupported children, with regard to their survival, let alone decent living standards. In particular we refer to the new rates of R75 per child (under the age of 6 years) per month which is according to the government "slightly above the household subsistence level". This raises a number of serious questions and implications. Who determined these figures, what are they based on and who is it aimed at ? For years in the labour movement we have been confronted by capitalist bosses with similar "scientific statistics" across the bargaining table when fighting for decent wages. We have always rejected these as being based on existing poverty levels and seeking to perpetuate these conditions. These figures are also determined by academics hidden and protected by the privilege of the university environment, treating our poverty as mere scientific subjects for study to strengthen the ideological hand of their capitalist masters. We reject the figures and are convinced that the new rates will have the effect of increasing poverty. It has also been pointed out to us, for what it is worth, that the actual "Household Subsistence Level" figure is more than what the government has decided, ie. R96.83. -
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CWIU is committed to the development of all its staff members. Therefore all staff members will have the opportunity to further their skills and. education supported by the Union. 1.1. The primary objective is to ensure that the aims and objectives of the union are achieved through an efficient,effective and excellent staff; 1.2. In addition,the union believes that individual staff members should have the opportunity to realise their full potential; Therefore,in implementing a Staff Development policy a balance will be achieved between organisational needs,which are primary,and personal needs of staff members. -
Chemical Workers Industrial Union (GW1U) CW1U wus launched in November 1074 following a wuvo of strikes by workers in Durban, who wero demanding bettor wages. During those dark yours when repression wus at its highest peak, workers hud no hade unions to assist them. In chemical, transport, textile and .paper industries, workers formed trade unions to take their struggle forward. They also formed a tight .federation, the Trade Union Advisory and Co-ordinating Committee (TUACC). At its launch in 1974, CWIU was concentrated in Durban and had just under 1 000 members. In July 1980, a branch was opened in the "old†Transvaal. In building a national union, CWIU merged with Glass and Allied Workers Union (Gawu) in 1982. In the interim, other branches where launched throughout the country, though it was easy task with security cops keeping surveillance on every movement of union officials. To build a stronger united worker-front, CWIU took quantum leap when it merged again with Plastics and Allied Workers Union in 1986.