Now that national and provincial government elections are over, it is time to get down to the business of preparing for the September Congress. To get you thinking, Numsa writers recently invaded Johannesburg South and Central locals to find out what shop stewards want discussed at Numsa’s September congress. What do you think? Debate in your workplace or fill in the box and give it to your shop steward to put into the union structures.
Views from shop stewards at Johannesburg South
July Mokgotho , shop steward at Dana SA:
“Numsa must improve the organisation, increase the number of organisers and attend cases at CCMA – no more rescission applications.”
Joseph Dlamini , new shop steward at Davidson Engineering
“The office of the Workmen’s Compensation Commissioner must be sorted out to service the workers. Workers wait many years for their claims.”
“The congress must discuss and resolve the issue of grades.”
Chris Mabunda, SA Leather
“Numsa Investment Company must begin to benefit members. Health and safety issues must be a priority. Sick leave – employers must accept that as Africans, we go to traditional healers.”
Hazel Phakula , Stockwell:
“Cases must be handled quickly.”
Maki Lebakeng, deputy chair of Johannesburg South local and shop steward at Dana SA
“The service to members must improve.”
“Workers must be affirmed, skilled and get education.”
“Workers must know their rights.”
“Gender issues must be understood and practised. Gender should cease to be called a sub-structure – it should become a fully-fledged structure.”
“Workers must participate in all the activities of the union.”
Tebogo Masalesa, Eskom
“Eskom transformation means they are engaged in many issues, as a result they are compromised in terms of Numsa structure participation. Eskom shop stewards operate independently from the union.”
Themba Mkhabela , Maxiprest shop steward and local chairperson
“Workers must reclaim worker control.”
“Discipline must come back into the constitution.”
“We must develop cadres. We no longer have cadres fit for Numsa.”
“We are creative in improving participation.”
“We take resolutions on behalf of people who are absent and expect them to implement.”
Johannesburg Central Local:
Jacob Mthimunye, John Morrison
“The Congress should tighten the Mafikeng resolution on organisational renewal about shop stewards training and organisers’ factory visits.”
Mooi Dlamini, Verra Cruize
“Congress must take a resolution on employers who employ pensioners. Pension should start at the age of 50 for women and 55 for men.”
Sithembile Sibeko , Sbu 2000
“People who should be considered first for retirement are the older workers.”
Elliot Segoete, Eclipse Blinds
“I think the congress should discussion the health and safety issue because there are so many companies who are working with dangerous substances.”
Ear to the ground :
What issue(s) do you want Numsa’s 7 th National Congress to discuss? Debate in your workplace or write it down and hand it to your shop steward so s/he can feed it into Congress discussions.
Remember:
Role of the National Congress
Numsa’s constitution says that the National Congress is the supreme governing body of the union. It has the power to:
make policy
amend the Constitution
elect National Office Bearers.
Numsa’s Central Committee and National Executive Committee can take decisions between the National Congresses, but they rely on the National Congress to set the direction and framework for Numsa for the years ahead. It does not deal with administrative or detailed operational issues.