Join the ANC By: Mziwakhe Hlangani
Nondwangu, addressing a later local general meeting in Isipingo, issued a strong appeal to shop stewards to attend union training workshops so that they help in turn to politicise workers and encourage them to join the ANC.
As a result of depoliticised membership which did not fully participate in political and civic affairs, he said, “We have handed over the ANC to the control of the bourgeoisie who were interested in self-enrichment activities and had turned ANC branches into meetings of business tendering to ensure their stomachs were full.”
“We never had problems with the ANC when workers joined in their numbers and influenced the direction of the organisation before the 1994 democratic national election. Now that you have neglected your responsibilities, those leading do not have the interests of workers at heart,” he said.
Numsa 2 nd vice- president, Cedric Gina told more than 300 workers at Bloxwich factory how the labour movement insisted that government changed policies and legislation to ensure that councillors stayed within their wards and availed themselves whenever workers needed them.
Gina warned against shop stewards enlisted by Numsa in the municipal elections who once elected, served their business interests and focused on securing business tenders instead of delivering basic services to communities and workers.
Our connection with the tens of thousands of workers in their workplaces will help us to understand each others’ problems and “begin to tackle them,” said Numsa 1 st vice president, Ben Khoza.
15 000 workers visited
By: Mziwakhe Hlangani
The Numsa leaders visited an estimated 15 000 workers in several companies, including GUD Filters, Toyota assembly plants, Somta, Dunlop, Federal Manufacturing, Trellidor, Sharlock, Assmang and Smiths Manufacturing.
They expressed their concerns about failure by their managements to abide by safety and occupational health regulations in the workplace and to provide proper job training facilities to enhance workers’ skills development.
The workforce in most companies also voiced the concern that management often seemed not to respect the democratic government. They feared they would be dismissed if they went to vote on March 1 instead of reporting for work and that they would then be replaced by temporary workers employed by labour brokers.
They also complained of outsourcing of work operations which often resulted in mass retrenchments.
Door-to-door
By: Mziwakhe Hlangani
Numsa leadership concluded their visits by campaigning door-to-door together with ANC leaders in Madadeni’s Inqayizivele hostel, Newcastle which is predominantly occupied by Inkatha Freedom Party supporters. They were told of the lack of a sewerage system, water, maintenance and electricity which were all cut in 2001.
A miffed contract worker at Mittal Steel told the Numsa delegation and Cosatu leaders how the community was denied a chance to secure part-time jobs in the company because hundreds of labourers of Taiwanese origin were bused into the firm premises to take their jobs.
Despite complaints of lack of leadership in the organisational structures and that they were disregarded by leaders in government, no-one rejected the Numsa leaders’ plea to participate, coordinate alliance activities and intensify the struggle for better services before and after the municipal elections.
Next on the list for a visit is the Western Cape which will be visited in March.