South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU)

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SAMWU fully supports the NHI initiative, but cautions.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
24th November 2009.

SAMWU fully supports the NHI (National Health Insurance) initiative. However, SAMWU sees the NHI as the financial arm of a National Health Service that provides universal, quality and free health for all at the point of service and it is this National Health Service that should accordingly be the primary focus.

Angry workers stage a sit in.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT
24th November 2009.

SAMWU and IMATU members of Musina Local Municipality in Limpopo province have embarked on a sit in due to mismanagement by the Municipal Manager. Organised Labour concerns include the following:

•   Blatant corruption by Municipal Manager and the CFO.
•   Lack of safety equipment for general workers.
•   Failure to fill positions that have been advertised since December 2008.
•   Unworthy state of vehicles.
•   Corruption with regards to Tenders awarded.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
12th November 2009.

After the week long national wage strike this year, Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Mpumalanga resumed what promised to be normal operations. The no-work-no-pay principle was earnestly applied and our members welcomed it because they knew the gains achieved by the legal industrial action were more.

Ten of our members were charged for strike-related activities! In most of these charges, the municipality doesn’t have jurisdiction. To make matters worse, private lawyers are being used to preside and prosecute our members. This, it must be said, is against the spirit of the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC).

SAMWU 9th National Congress pics

SAMWU 9th National Congress pictures.

Picture below; SAMWU Newly elected Leadership, from left to right; Walter Theledi (DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY), Ntokozo Nzuza (2ND DEPUTY PRESIDENT), Mthandeki Nhlapo (GENERAL SECRETARY), Nomvula Hadi (1ST DEPUTY PRESIDENT), Gati Maleti (NATIONAL TREASURER), Sam Molope (PRESIDENT).

SAMWU President, Comrade Petrus Mashishi's Speech to 9th National Congress, 3 November 2009, Bela Bela, Limpopo.

The Context We Are In

Comrades this Conference takes place at a crucial time in our history, as a union, and as part of a national and international working class movement. So many things have changed since our last Conference, and so many new challenges have emerged that we must address if we are to survive and move forward.

First though let me say something about the context we are in.

Speech to the National Congress of the South African Municipal Workers Union by COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, 3 November 2009, Bela Bela, Limpopo

It is a special honour and privilege for me to address your National Congress for the very first time. I bring revolutionary greetings and best wishes for a successful Congress from COSATU’s two million members, to the members of an affiliate that has always been in the front line of the struggle for democracy, freedom and socialism.

Your congress coincides with one of the greatest economic crises ever faced by our country. The cold reality we are facing is that workers are bearing the brunt of the capitalists’ greed and mess. We are now haemorrhaging jobs at a frightening pace.

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