The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Limpopo Province is deeply disturbed by the events at Diggersrest Timber Company whose factory is in the Goerges Valley in Limpopo Province. It is quite disturbing that in the 21st century democratic South Africa, there are employers whose practices appear to still hanker for the fossilised policies of the horrible apartheid system.
Workers in the company have been denied the most basic of benefits that workers in South Africa are now accustomed to getting, as result of the post -apartheid labour relations framework which millions of workers in this province and in the entire Republic fought so hard to gain. These include:
- Workplace safety,
- Retirement plans,
- Sound labour relations practices at the workplace
- Compliance with labour legislation
While we are aware that all are these challenges that can be addressed by processes available to workers, the company uses those processes to frustrate workers at every turn even on matters that can easily be resolved by engagement. Currently 45 workers are going through a disciplinary process which puts in question their right to organise themselves and demonstrate about their plight, which is a right enshrined in the South African Constitution and the Labour Relations Act. This happens while all the shop stewards are suspended from work. COSATU will continue to support its Affiliate, the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU) to ensure the gains of workers to collective bargaining and sound labour relations practices are not undermined by reactionary employers who still long for the dreadful days of apartheid. We call upon the company to engage CEPPWAWU to address the mound of challenges that have been raised by workers in the company.
Issued by COSATU LIMPOPO
Hangwani Mashao
Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 067 413 0165