Letters
Dear Numsa NewsWith the completion of collective bargaining imminent, shopsteward’s elections from September to December 2007 are the next big thing in the Numsa calendar (see also pages 11-14). Since Numsa is a democratic organisation, shopsteward elections present Numsa with a unique opportunity to look at itself. Shopsteward elections are the most democratic elections in trade unions. But do our members take this task seriously? Some yes, but the majority do not. Those who take this revolutionary task seriously have already started to reflect on the contributions of different shopstewards in the current term of office. Progressive ones are objective in their analysis, however many are very subjective in the process. Progressive members will do a holistic analysis, whereas the subjective members will concentrate on the failures. Progressive members will question their own contribution to the success and failures, whereas the subjective members question their contribution to successes but excuse themselves from any failures.The other challenge facing the union is what was articulated a few years ago by the general secretary Silumko Nondwangu. In the auto sector, individuals were rushing for the perks associated with being a shopsteward instead of having the vigour to fight for members’ issues. This has also now become a phenomenon in the house agreement companies and other big establishments. How do we arrest it? How do we address the young worker phenomenon? Have we done enough to encourage young workers to be active in the trade union movement? Do we need a youth desk? What is the European experience? These are important questions that I think as we move to September, we must think about.Will I be accused of neglecting gender issues in my article? The strategic plans of the gender co-ordinator raise this matter, but have we dedicated enough resources to increasing the number of women leaders. Is our focus right in terms of this issue? This is an opportunity that we could miss. Come the national congress next year, will we raise this matter as if we were sleeping during shopstewards elections? Have we dealt with patriarchy in our homes before we talk about the union? How are we going to utilise the discussion in the Numsa Political School to address these challenges?Cedric Gina, second vice president, (writing in his personal capacity as an activist of the trade union movement)
Checklist – Assessing your shop steward
How successful is my shop steward in taking up grievances in my factory?
If my shop steward failed, was it because I/we did not give enough support or because s/he did not do well?
How good is my shop steward in representing and defending workers who are disciplined?
How often has my shop steward given report backs in the factory? Were they good, clear reports?
Do I know from these reports what the shop steward committee is busy with? Am I happy that they have been working on the issues that I think are important?
How many women members do we have in this factory? Do we have any women shop stewards? Are women’s problems being addressed by the shop stewards?
Dear Numsa NewsI just want to share a lesson I have learnt during the case of one of the organisers in our region. I am not going to go through all of it but I will touch on the areas of importance that taught me a lesson. One is the commitment of the comrade to the struggle of the workers and I thank him and encourage him to keep up that fight. The comrade was unfairly dismissed and has been out of work for a very long time (+- 2 years) but he never lost hope, even when he failed to handle his problem in a constructive way. We tried to forget about him and make his case a closed matter, put it to rest and carry on with our lives.Secondly, the seriousness of the wrongdoing by one department finally affecting the whole organisation or causing a huge damage to the organisation whereby the organisation is drawn in to the discussions of correcting the wrong action and putting everything else aside. I have learnt that one must be very careful when dealing with certain issues.The last part is that the mistake was done by the locals at their meetings and at the REC concerning the matter. I have learnt that we always need to do thorough investigations and preparation before we finally conclude and charge and dismiss a person. The lack of a proper investigation led to the said organiser winning the case. We appealed against such and we again failed because we failed in the first place to do things properly. As a shop steward from this region, I admit that the failure was from all of us. We therefore have to approach each and every matter with the seriousness it deserves.Lastly I congratulate the comrade organiser for winning the case and emphasise that we welcome him back. We will not have any grudges against him and we look forward to working harmoniously with him and push the workers’ struggle forward and give the service expected from us as leadership of this organisation.Viva comrade Thulani Ngubane Viva!Moses Mbasa, Isipingo local
Dear Numsa NewsHow often do we as comrades take a back seat from the politics or relax a bit and begin to admire the beauty that our country offers? We do not have the luxury to visit game reserves to look at the ‘Big Five’ even the ‘small five’ for that matter!But there is one thing that we do best. That is to drive around the country to service members or attend meetings.During that process we can look at what nature provides, feel part of it, be free spiritually and breathe uncontaminated oxygen that is provided by the wildness. Guided by mountains, through curves, slopes, down and up hills, one’s heart is witness to a journey that is ever-fulfilling.Maybe what I am describing is far-fetched for comrades because industrialisation and pollution has taken over their clean air. So let me take you to Queenstown local where everybody knows you and they are glad that you came!The Drakensberg mountains are a sight to see.Xolisile Copiso, Queenstown local
Dear Numsa NewsI just want to show Numsa members that you are not too young to be a Numsa member. She is 1year 7 months old and already defending the other kids at home. Beware! She is going to be a future female leader of Numsa. “Recruitment for female leaders starts here!”Willie Morris shopsteward at Manyathi local