Photos of the May Day NUMSA-led rally in Tembisa
A gallery of photos taken at the May Day NUMSA-led rally in Tembisa.
Labour
COSATU can learn from Corbyn to avoid slipping into irrelevance
“The ANC came before democracy.” This statement by President Jacob Zuma was obviously incorrect since the concept of democracy pre-dated the formation of the ANC in 1912 by about 2,500 years.
It came to us from the ancient Greeks who also provided the term, taken from demos (people) and kratos (power). However Zuma did go on to explain that he meant his comment to apply to South Africa where the first non-racial parliamentary elections were staged 82 years after the birth of what became the ANC.
This, along with comments made at last week’s Cosatu congress, put the whole question of what democracy means into focus. At the same time, the media was again accused of misleading the voting public and so undermining both the ANC and its trade union partner.
But does universal adult suffrage — votes for all to a parliament — equal democracy? And is the media really able, to a large degree, to manipulate public opinion and, therefore, harm the trade union movement and the country?
A jobs massacre on the third anniversary of Marikana
The recent announcement by the mining industry that it would be axing thousands of jobs sent shudders of dread across the country.
The 10 joint interventions by the stakeholders are meant to promote South African minerals, enhance productivity and an agreement that when mines were intended to be mothballed or sold, saving jobs would be prioritized.
Ruling on Garnishee orders is a victory for the poor
The recent High Court ruling in which garnishee orders against 15 consumers were declared unlawful and was a victory for the poor.
Marikana report eagerly awaited by workers’ families and union
After mounting pressure from civil society organizations, including a threatened court action by the families of the victims, President Jacob Zuma has told parliament that […]
Parallel rallies at this years’ May Day
This year’s May Day was marked by deep and visible division in the country’s biggest trade union federation. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, […]
SAMWU strike brings Cape Town to a standstill
About 6,000 municipal workers took to the streets of Cape Town to hand over a memorandum demanding better working conditions and treatment of workers at […]
Aquarius Platinum workers demand salary increase
Aquarius Platinum mine workers are demanding a monthly salary of R12,500 for entry level workers by 2016. The demands were made at a workers’ mass […]
Xenophobia – The Informal Traders perspective
It is not xenophobia, it’s an ideological struggle, it’s a socio-economic struggle, unfortunately the African migrants have been used as scapegoats in the process.
Important new rights for labour broker, contract and part-time workers
New rights in the LRA The state has made new rights for labour broker, contract and part-time workers. Workers now have better legal protection because […]
Youth unemployment in Khayelitsha
Youth unemployment in South Africa has been described by the COSATU general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi as a ticking time bomb. There is merit in the […]
en