:: :: WINNING LETTER :: :: WINNING LETTER :: :: WINNING LETTER :: ::
Dear Numsa NewsI am 38 years old and 12 years in Numsa, 10 years as a Numsa shop steward in Continental Tyres in Port Elizabeth. As Numsa members, I seriously advise that we must open up a savings and credit cooperative whereby Numsa leadership will encourage all the workers and community to save their money.
The banks that we save in are not serving the interests of our people/community. We must try to form a co-operative bank that will serve the interests of people at large. The co-operatives in general are extremely important to the social values. Co-operatives build on a spirit of endeavour. Co-operative banking is part of building social capital. It is a measure to end unfair discrimination in a financial measure to extend basic financial services. The co-operative banking sector can ensure that they directly compete and eventually overcome these capitalist vultures. Every shop steward must be able to be debt free and be willing to understand what is a savings and credit co-operative.
Viva tyre and rubber co-operative, motor and auto co-operative, Sadtu co-operative, Nehawu co-operative etc.
Siyabulela HodiContinental Tyre shop steward and chairperson of Mayibuye Savings and Credit Co-operative
Dear Numsa NewsComrades I have dismally failed to understand how conservative, profiteering capitalist corporates such as Labour Protect could honestly bargain for labour, especially when it comes to wages, unfair retrenchments, or rather ownership/equity related matters.
During my thoughts I tried to imagine the kind of political or ideological school of thought they would claim to derive their zeal from. However I decided not to waste my time because this is just another crass scam by capitalists to neutralise, disunionise and disorganise the united, unionised workers in RSA.
I wish to the advise the rest of the working class to practise caution when dealing with these liberal reactionaries who are constantly seeking to undermine working class cohesion. If these people do not leave labour issues to labour unions and labour friendly/ orientated political organisations, I think the working class will be forced to remind them that in the first place they are: labour protectors, and they should concentrate on their chosen careers and leave labour out of this greed-driven confusion. There are a lot more of these opportunistic companies. They disgust me so much that I won’t even bother to mention them.
On my side all these corporates who are trumpeting false propaganda about being “experts” at protecting labour rights, sickens me. This illness is only healed by comrades Zwelinzima Vavi and Blade Nzimande and my being a communist and nothing less.
Elijah “Bo” Mdwara [activist from Uitenhage]
How to get the workers back to May DayIn the last Numsa News we asked for suggestions on how to get workers back to May Day celebrations. Thomas Maluleke from Kempton Park local responded with his ideas:
We must teach our youth about the importance of May Day. May Day marks the emancipation of all workers from employers’ oppression whereby our rights were severely violated by these employers. We as labour worked very hard to get our rights recognised and we should show respect to fallen heroes who fought and died for our rights since 1886.
This year Cosatu marked the 120th anniversary of this May Day but looking at the turnout I have come to realise that this day is starting to lose meaning in South Africa. Attendance at rallies was very poor. The majority of the current workers are young and therefore don’t fully understand the importance of May Day.
Some workers are indirectly influenced by their employers who are not in support of this day. They undermine this day by encouraging their workers to work on that particular day and be paid above the normal rate. Therefore workers in financial difficulties will prefer to work rather than joining celebrations. Some workers see this day as a day to relax since they are overworked and others choose to go shopping unless the shops are closed on this day.
To encourage people to come back to these rallies, speeches must be related to labour and political issues. Cultural activities like dancing, music etc should form part of encouraging workers to attend May Day rallies in numbers.
We won’t see an improved attendance in May Day activities in the future if we don’t teach our youth about its importance. It is our responsibility as the working class to make sure that we change the mind-set of the youth and those who are indirectly influenced by their employers.
Young workers, speak out – what can we do to get young workers to May Day rallies?