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Dismissed Midrand Council Workers: Still Struggling For Their Jobs, Seventeen Years Later! |
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Dismissed Midrand Council Workers: Still Struggling For Their Jobs, Seventeen Years Later!
SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
25th February 2010.
In what is fast becoming a milestone dispute in South African industrial relations history, more than 280 municipal workers from the former Midrand Town Council are still actively campaigning for the jobs that were taken from them when they were unfairly dismissed, on the eve of South African democracy in 1994.
The story behind this long and bitter dispute is riddled with evidence of Council corruption and abuses of authority by Council Officials. In total, 600 workers lost their jobs, and those who are still alive and resident in Gauteng have been campaigning ever since for a settlement that provides them with employment. The hardship that many of these workers have experienced over the last 17 years cannot be denied. The fact that they have remained resolute and committed to a successful outcome is in itself a remarkable achievement.
After very detailed discussions, the top leadership of SAMWU, at National, Provincial and Local levels have re-dedicated themselves to the cause of the Midrand workers.
This is an URGENT call to all those 280+ Midrand Workers who were dismissed in 1994, and who did not accept the offer of selective re-employment, to come to a Mass Meeting at 10.00am sharp on the 7th of March 2010 at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
At the meeting SAMWU National Office Bearers will update comrades attending on the current situation, and gather vital information needed in the campaign. There will also be information on neglected pension rights. It is vitally important that all of the remaining 280+ workers who did not accept selective re-employment attend.
SAMWU is of the view that the local and national governments of today will be more sympathetic to the plight of the workers than the apartheid era local government that dismissed them, and is looking forward to a meaningful engagement towards settling this dispute once and for all.
For further comment contact the SAMWU International Officer Stephen Faulkner on 0828175455 or Stanley Mohale (former Midrand Town Council worker) on 0762419767.
Issued by;
Tahir Sema.
South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU.
National Media and Publicity officer.
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Office: 011-331 0333.
Cell: 0829403403.
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Worker's News April 2008 PART 1 (514)
