This 2nd NUMSA News Edition in 2003 is published a few weeks after our successful National Bargaining Conference. Delegates representing all our regions were able to rise to the occasion in dealing with the challenges ahead of us as we prepare to take on employers in this bargaining round.
This they did cognisant of the complex socio-economic and political challenges that we face as working people and as a part of the broader working class family.
I want to believe that many delegates left the conference for their regions rejuvenated as one delegate said, that the robustness in the conference debates represented:
A resolve in form and content to carry on with the traditions that have made us in the last 15 years of existence, 'a strong and militant metalworkers' union'. A union that resolved in its Bargaining Conference in 2001 to bargain in solidarity and unity, a union that resolves in its Bargaining Conference in 2003 to bargain for the future of the poor.
The President of the union, cde Mtutuzeli Tom made an important remark in his opening address in the conference that whatever we say as delegates must be followed by concrete action in building a strong organisation and leadership on the part of our footsoldiers, shopstewards.
Back in your regions, we hope that you have heeded the call of the President in ensuring that those that you represent have received the full account of the Bargaining Conference.
On Building the Organisation
We spent the better part of the last day in our conference focused in a discussion on how we can ensure that the aspirations of motor members are mainstreamed in the daily activities of our union. A number of important and concrete proposals were made by regions, which we think should form part of your discussion in the RECs planned to report-back on the Bargaining Conference.
What we all said in the Bargaining Conference about the motor sector must now be translated into action, 'that motor sector members are as equal as all other sectors in our union'. In your campaigns programme, we hope that you will ensure that Motor issues are prioritised.
On the May Day Disaster
We once again wish to express our sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic bus disaster on May Day.
In almost all of these cases, these comrades who passed away were breadwinners. In keeping with the founding slogan of Cosatu, 'An Injury to One is an Injury to All'; we have made an earnest call to you as members to contribute to the families affected of at least R1-00 per member. This noble call has been extended to the Numsa Staff who have been asked to contribute an amount of not less than R20-00.
There can be no better cause in our struggle as metalworkers that in whatever part of the country we may be, that we express our solidarity, condolences in a manner that would ensure that these families have something to look forward to beyond this tragedy.
As we were mourning and preparing for the funeral of these comrades, we were saddened at the news of hearing that a stalwart of our liberation movement, the ANC, Baba Walter Sisulu passed away on the evening of the 5th June 2003 . Baba Sisulu cut his struggle as a peasant from the far-flung, poverty stricken rural area of Engcobo, who in his early working life, became an activist of the trade union movement. We have not only lost a father but a revolutionary of the working class.
Lala Kahle Tyhopo, Xhamela!
As we all prepare to lay to rest our comrades from Samwu and our father Xhamela to their final resting places, this is a legacy that they live with us as many a times expressed by Amilcar Cabral in his life time.
'Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children'.
Aluta Continua!
Silumko Nondwangu
General Secretary
Source
Numsa News