COSATU,+800+steel+retrenchments,+commitment+to+action

Congress of South African Trade Unions
=Steel retrenchments deplored=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is outraged by the plan of Mittal Steel South Africa Ltd to cut 800 jobs this month. This is a cruel blow to workers and their families, who face a bleak future of poverty and a struggle to survive.

The announcement illustrates perfectly why COSATU needs to continue and intensify its Jobs and Poverty Campaign. At a time when the whole country should be uniting to save and create jobs, we see the world’s biggest steel producer ruining the lives of 800 families just to save R160m per year. To Mittal this is a drop in the ocean but to the retrenched workers the loss will be huge.

COSATU demands the immediate reversal of the decision and, failing that, the federation pledges its full support for any action its affiliate NUMSA decides to take to save their members’ jobs and livelihoods. This issue will also be included in the submission to NEDLAC under Section 77 of the LRA to facilitate discussion and future action on jobs and poverty.


 * Patrick Craven (Spokesperson)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets**
 * Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019**
 * Johannesburg, 2000**
 * South Africa**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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