Wednesday, February 16, 2011

South African News Update: Transport Workers Strike, Demonstrations Over Service Delivery Continue

Cosatu backs striking truck drivers

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Feb 16 2011 00:00

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will "mobilise solidarity support" -- including marches and pickets -- for the striking road freight sector should its wage demands not be met, the federation said on Wednesday.

"Cosatu demands that the employers bring an improved offer to the table as quickly as possible so that a settlement can be negotiated. But should no acceptable offer materialise, the federation will mobilise solidarity support for the striking workers," said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven in a statement.

Craven said this support included marches, pickets and protests. A solidarity strike, however, would be the last resort.

"We hope that it won't come to that [solidarity strike]; it will be the last option," he said.

Cosatu expressed its support for its affiliate in the sector, the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu).

Craven called upon workers to "conduct their struggle in a peaceful, lawful and disciplined manner".

Four unions involved in the strike -- the Transport and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, the Professional Transport Workers' Union, Satawu and the Motor Transport Workers' Union -- are demanding a 20% increase allocated over a two-year period, for example 10% in 2011 and 10% in 2012.

The Road Freight Employers' Association was offering an increase of 7,5% across the board for 2011 and a further 7,5% increase for 2012.

Talks between the union and the employers were continuing on Wednesday.

'Sisi, this is not a time for journalists'

Meanwhile, there was a large police presence ahead of a march by Satawu members in Johannesburg on Wednesday as the strike entered its third day.

The striking truck drivers wore red T-shirts with their demands printed on the back: "end slavery wage" and "change slavery mentality".

Many of the truckers carried sticks, sjamboks, wooden planks, and vuvuzelas.

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/1970-01-01-cosatu-backs-striking-truck-drivers


Mthethwa warns against strike, protest violence

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Feb 16 2011 14:03

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa warned on Wednesday that violence in strikes and protests will be punished, as tensions flared in a protesting township and at a truck driver stayaway over wages.

Four taxi passengers were, meanwhile, seriously hurt in Johannesburg on Wednesday when a trucker fleeing an attack by strikers crashed his vehicle into theirs, media reported.

Other trucks were burned, stoned and looted as the wage strike entered a third day with a march through central Johannesburg.

Security forces, meanwhile, patrolled the destitute township of Wesselton, about 200km east of Johannesburg, where a man was found dead this week after clashes between police and protesters complaining about poor government services.

"Police have a mandate to protect law-abiding citizens, and those who find themselves on the wrong side -- we shall have no leniency on them," Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in a statement.

The truck drivers had the right to strike but not to "violent, barbaric and intolerant behaviour", he said.

Mthethwa also warned against violence in Wesselton, outside the town of Ermelo, where police have arrested 113 people and battled to end a service delivery protest that started on Monday.

Businesses closed

Police fired rubber bullets as protesters set alight tyres in Wesselton on Wednesday in a third day of demonstrations over weak government service delivery.

Riot police deployed into the streets to disperse protesters who also dragged the charred remains of earlier barricades back into the road.

Businesses were closed and schoolchildren had stayed at home amid fears that the streets could again explode violence after Tuesday's clashes, when police opened fire with rubber and live bullets.

A man was found dead but authorities said it was not yet clear what had killed him.

Police said they fired rubber bullets Tuesday at protesters who trashed and looted foreign-owned shops, and shot live ammunition into walls as a warning after some demonstrators opened fire at the security forces.

"They don't care if you're participating or just watching, they shoot everybody," resident Sbusiso Nkosi (21) said Wednesday as he crouched behind a tin-roof shack after running from riot police firing rubber bullets and carrying assault rifles.

Nkosi, an unemployed welder, told Agence France-Presse residents were angry over the government's failure to deliver services like electricity and water, and the lack of jobs in the township.

"Just like the truck drivers' strike, we noted disturbing incidents of looting of shops and assaults and we once again want to reiterate that government shall act without fear or favour to protect law-abiding incidents," Mthethwa said, referring to Wesselton.

National police commissioner Bheki Cele was visit the township on Wednesday.

'Solidarity support'

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday said it will "mobilise solidarity support" -- including marches and pickets -- for the striking road freight sector should the sector's wage demands not be met.

"Cosatu demands that the employers bring an improved offer to the table as quickly as possible so that a settlement can be negotiated. But should no acceptable offer materialise, the federation will mobilise solidarity support for the striking workers," said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven in a statement.

Craven said this support included marches, pickets and protests. A solidarity strike, however, would be the last resort.

"We hope that it won't come to that [solidarity strike]; it will be the last option," he said.

Cosatu expressed its support for its affiliate in the sector, the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu).

Craven called upon workers to "conduct their struggle in a peaceful, lawful and disciplined manner".

Four unions involved in the strike -- the Transport and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, the Professional Transport Workers' Union, Satawu and the Motor Transport Workers' Union -- are demanding a 20% increase allocated over a two-year period, for example 10% in 2011 and 10% in 2012.

The Road Freight Employers' Association was offering an increase of 7,5% across the board for 2011 and a further 7,5% increase for 2012.

Talks between the union and the employers were continuing on Wednesday. -- AFP, Sapa

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-02-16-mthethwa-warns-against-strike-protest-violence


We won't back down, say truck drivers

VUVU VENA | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Feb 15 2011 16:34

An estimated 65 000 workers associated with the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) are taking part in a nationwide strike for higher wages by freight and logistics workers and cash-in-transit employees.

Speaking at the Library Gardens in Johannesburg on Tuesday, provincial chairperson of Satawu Ephraim Mphahlele said the strike would have a major effect on the country.

Truck drivers' strike under way

Truck drivers have hit the streets in Johannesburg to protest against wages as low as R3 000 a month. We talk to Satawu about progress in wage negotiations with the Road Freight Employers' Association.

He said the most-affected areas would be the food retail sector and the fuel sector as truck drivers were responsible for delivering these goods. He also highlighted the eventual strain on the banking sector as cash-in-transit workers joined the strike on Monday.

"It would take too many years to recover," said Mphahlele.

As Mphahlele was addressing the crowd, wage negotiations between trade unions and the Road Freight Employers' Association (RFEA), which deadlocked in December, were taking place in Boksburg.

"We are not actually going to back down from this; we are going to demand what we are demanding until we get it," said Mphahlele.

'The remaining 5% is not too much'

The four unions involved in the strike -- Satawu, the Motor Transport Workers' Union, the Transport and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, and the Professional Transport Workers' Union -- are demanding a 20% wage increase spread over two years. Currently the RFEA is offering 15%.

"We are saying the remaining 5% is not too much," said Mphahlele.

Zenzo Mahlangu, general secretary of Satawu, told the Mail & Guardian on Tuesday that the average truck driver and the average cash-in-transit employee earn R4 000 a month. This applied to permanent employees.

"Other categories, who are not part of the bargaining chamber, like your administration workers' and clerks' wages, are divided on racial lines. You will find that the average white person is earning R15 000 and the previously disadvantaged black person doing the same job is earning R4 000; this indicates a lack of transformation," said Mahlangu.

Other demands

Among other union demands are: a housing allowance of R500 per employee; the ban of labour brokers in the industry; and six months fully paid maternity leave for female workers.

"One of the reasons why we want to get rid of labour brokers," said Mahlangu, "is that the average general worker in this category [non-permanent workers] earns R1 500 per month, an average clerk earns R2500 and a driver R2000. This is less than permanent employees in those same positions.

"What you'll find is that the companies are pushing towards a cost-effective direction that will see labour brokers being used more than permanent employees," he said.

Other demands by the unions include: "No consultants to be used in bargaining council structures; improve all benefits to attract new workers; all benefits to apply to all workers in the industry, including administration workers, call centre workers and supervisors; [and] racial composition of management in the industry must transform."

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-02-15-we-wont-back-down-say-truck-drivers


ANC condemns violent Ermelo protests

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Feb 15 2011 14:06

The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned the violent protest in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, on Tuesday.

"While the leadership of the ANC acknowledges the challenges and the right of citizens to voice their concerns, there is no justification whatsoever for the communities to destroy government and private property," spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

The blocking of roads and destruction of public property which costs taxpayers millions, cannot be condoned, he said.

An eNews cameraman was injured and an outside broadcast van was damaged when protesters turned on him and a reporter in Wesselton.

Live television footage on the eNews channel showed a group stoning a police vehicle, which sped away, and then rushing toward the cameraman and journalist, who sought cover in their van.

The cameraman's hand was bleeding and the vehicle's windows were damaged.

Journalist Jody Jacobs told viewers that their laptops were also damaged.

They were later moved to a place of safety.

Burning tyres and stones

Earlier, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Captain Leonard Hlathi said the protests, believed to be over service delivery issues, had entered a second day.

He could not confirm reports in Beeld that the protests were related to the community being unhappy about the ANC's candidate lists for the local government elections.

The party's Brian Sokutu said its understanding was that "this is a service delivery protest".

"We were not given any details about the nominations list."

Thirty-three people were to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate's Court on Tuesday after they were arrested on Monday for public violence.

Hlathi said protesters barricaded roads by using burning tyres and stones on Monday.

"They broke down robots and some traffic signs," he said.

Mthembu called on protesters to stop the violence.

"The ANC makes a call to all those individuals who are involved in such acts to immediately refrain from such acts of lawlessness.

"We appreciate the swift action by police for having restored stability in the areas and warn anyone seeking to engage in further forms of violence to expect the full might of the law," he said.

Key concerns

The Human Sciences Research Council called on President Jacob Zuma to intervene.

"It may be necessary for the President to intervene directly, given the tone and content of the State of the Nation address," said HSRC executive director Udesh Pillay in a statement.

"Bold, imaginative and unambiguous leadership is what is needed, not further diagnostic analyses."

He said the violent nature of the protests, and the destruction of property "are key concerns". -- Sapa

Source: Mail & Guardian Online
Web Address: http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-02-15-anc-condemns-violent-ermelo-protests

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