Union+steps+up+fight+for+SA+embassy+recognition,+Morning+Star

Morning Star, London, Wednesday 06 December 2006
=Union steps up the fight to secure South African embassy recognition=

GENERAL union T&G officials will step up their campaign against the South African embassy's refusal to recognise the trade union rights of its locally recruited support staff on Thursday.

T&G general secretary Tony Woodley, along with the union's general executive council members and top officers, will descend on the South African high commission in London at 12.30pm to demand that it recognises the T&G as the union for its British staff.

T&G members working at South Africa House in Trafalgar Square include security, cleaning, secretarial and administrative personnel. But, despite a long-running campaign, the authorities have, to date, refused to allow them basic trade union recognition rights.

"The worldwide fight by the labour movement to secure union rights in South Africa isn't a distant echo for us," Mr Woodley said.

"We are calling on the same South African unions we fought for to now join us in putting pressure on the South African government to recognise the T&G."

Mr Woodley will hand in a petition and letter to the South African high commissioner, calling for urgent discussion.

The campaign will also call on the African National Congress party and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions to back the trade union and human rights of the T&G members at the high commission.

"Right is on our side and we expect the might of the labour movement to back us," added Mr Woodley.


 * From: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index2.php/ex/examples (plus subscription)**

250 words