South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU)

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Memorandum

Memorandum to the Chairperson of the Board of ERWAT by striking workers in Gauteng, delivered on the 16th of February 2010 at ERWAT Head office

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
17th February 2010.

Introduction

We have overtime observed how the East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT) management has snubbed the Union and denied workers participation in the internal processes of transforming the institution. This kind of behaviour has far reaching implications in entrenching non-transparency of the institution and allows for corrupt activities. We are here to confirm that you were wrongly appointed and your interest is for the ERWAT not to grow.

We have also realized that members are barred from wearing t-shirts of the Union and it had to take the entire leadership to make you understand that it was their constitutional right to associate and promote their Union through the regalia. We have on numerous occasions made attempts to meet with the senior management without avail. You continued to ignore us whenever we requested a meeting. We are here to tell you that your time is up and all that you have done thus far to undermine the Union and mistreat workers will stop with immediate effect.

SAMWU Strike action in Gauteng

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
15th February 2010.

SAMWU has overtime observed how the East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT) management has snubbed the Union (the biggest trade union in the local government sector) and denied workers participation in the internal processes of transforming the institution. This kind of behavior has far reaching implications and allows for corrupt activities. The workers are tired of the attitude of the management of ERWAT and will be embarking on a march on the 16/02/2010.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
15th February 2010.

As SAMWU we have not been surprised by the recent allegations in the media against the Johannesburg City Parks department of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, its managing director Luther Williamson and the Johannesburg City Park board of directors. The recent allegations in the media revealed in a forensic report have exposed that City Parks has awarded multi million rand tenders to companies owned by friends of the departments managing director.

This horrendous tender corruption has cost the Municipality more than R117 million and has also cost many innocent workers their livelihood, as they were unceremoniously fired to keep this treacherous behaviour a veil of secrecy.

SAMWU fully supports the Swaziland Democracy campaign and the necessity of such a campaign

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
12th February 2010.

Earlier this week a group of representatives from trade unions, civil society and faith based organisations were gathered in Johannesburg to finalise a programme to launch the new Swaziland Democracy Campaign. The Campaign is designed to be an active partnership of Swazi and South African organisations committed to achieving democracy in Swaziland. It is to be formally launched on Sunday 21st February after a strategy workshop the day before.

As if to emphasise the absolute necessity of such a Campaign, news came through from Swaziland via text messages while we were meeting, informing those present that four prominent student leaders had just been arrested by the police and taken to an undisclosed destination. Other students were manhandled and threatened with state violence if they tried to intervene. Part of the town where a student protest was planned was cut off by armed police.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
03 February 2010.

The South African Municipal Workers Union in the Eastern Cape wishes to reiterate the decision of its NEC (National Executive Committee) - on the statement made by the President of the ANC in his January 8th statement, about the political activism of Municipal workers- that they should not hold leadership positions in political parties. As SAMWU we find the above statement very problematic. We view this as an attempt by the Government to tamper with the rights of South Africans as enshrined in chapter two of the South African constitution – the right to freedom of association- this attitude displayed by the ANC is the same as that which was directed at the countries Soldiers, by trying to influence processes to de-unionize the military.

SAMWU PRESS STATEMENT.
29th January 2010.

SAMWU expresses its deepest sympathy for those people who have lost loved ones in the terrible earthquake that hit Haiti last week. We also express our concern for the very large numbers of people, currently estimated at over 150,000 who have sustained serious physical and mental injuries that will leave them disabled and traumatised for many years to come.

At times like this it is often regarded as diplomatic to simply focus on the relief effort, and to reserve critical political comment to another time, but we believe that they cannot be separated. While we applaud all those countries, organisations and individuals who have rallied to provide immediate relief to the Haitian people, we believe that we are doing the Haitian people a disservice if we do not comment on the circumstances that preceded the earthquake, and what is being proposed for the future of the country.

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