T+and+G+presses+SA+House+for+recognition+Politics-co-uk

Politics.co.uk, London, Wednesday, 06 Dec 2006 12:35
=T&G presses South Africa to recognise its London High Commission workers=


 * //Union protest and vigil at South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London//**


 * //12.30pm to 1.30pm Thursday 7th December//**

The fight for locally recruited support staff at the South African High Commission in London to have their trade union recognised will step up a gear this week as leaders of the Transport and General Workers Union mount a lunchtime protest this Thursday (7th December).

The T&G General Executive Council, the union’s governing body, and the union’s top officers will be led by Tony Woodley, T&G General Secretary, and Jimmy Kelly, Chair of the Executive. They will gather outside South Africa House in Trafalgar Square to call on the South African government to recognise the T&G as the union for the UK High Commission staff.

The staff involved, including security, cleaning, secretarial and administrative personnel, keep the day-to-day work of the High Commission going. In spite of a long-running campaign by the T&G, the South African authorities have, to date, refused to allow them basic trade union recognition rights.

“It cannot be right for the South African government to resist the legitimate right of our members to be recognised by the London High Commission,” said Tony Woodley. “The worldwide fight by the labour movement to secure union rights in South Africa isn’t a distant echo for us. 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 and Mr. Kelly will hand in a petition and letter to the South African High Commissioner calling for urgent discussions. The campaign will also call on the African National Congress party (ANC) and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to back the trade union and human rights of the T&G members at the High Commission. The labour movement in the UK, through the TUC and the Labour Party, will also be urged to back the staff.

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

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to meet with the T&G leadership outside South Africa House, Trafalgar House, London. They expect to be there from 12.30pm and will hand out campaign leaflets to the public.

For further information please call the T&G Press Office on 020 7611 2550


 * From: http://www.politics.co.uk/press-releases/economy/employment/industrial-relations/tg-presses-south-africa-recognise-its-london-high-commission-workers-$460263.htm**

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