Communication Workers Union (CWU) calls on its members to support the National Strike led by COSATU against jobs bloodbath. We as CWU, experience the scourge of neo-liberal policies that led to a massive number of job losses in Vodacom, MTN and Telkom. We are deeply concerned of a staggering figure of 9.3 million unemployed people, 17 million of our people are depending on social grants for survival and over 55% and counting of our youth is unemployed. The BCX, which is a subsidiary company of a partly state owned company, Telkom; is currently in the process of shedding jobs in hundreds. On the other end, the private sector is now using section 179 of Labour Relations Act (Outsourcing) and 189 of the Labour Relations Act as a mechanism to generate profit at an expense of the economy of our country. There has never been a time like now for workers to unite for a common cause and defeat the re-emergence of the 1996 class project.
The tried but failed plans to retrench workers at SABC, SAPO and what appears to have been kept on ice for now (retrenchments) at ESKOM, must never be allowed to raise its ugly heads again. The MTN is now following on the footsteps of VODACOM to outsource, reducing workers benefits, Voluntarily Severance Packages, and ultimately retrenchments. As workers of South Africa, we are on a daily routine; experiencing the exploitation of our people in the hospitality industry, where the employers outsource their responsibility of paying salaries to their customers, they create a situation where workers rely on tips for a living. The crises of the unemployment, inequality and poverty is a threat to our young democracy.
The time is now – on the 13th of February 2019 (tomorrow) all workers (unionised and non-unionised) are expected to heed this clarion call to down tools. This is a protected action in terms of the law, and no worker maybe dismissed at work for joining the action.
Issued by the office of the General Secretary CWU
Contact:
CWU General Secretary
Aubrey Tshabalala
Cell: 061 481 1080