COSATU+Statement+re+T+and+G+dispute+with+SA+House+London

COSATU Media Release
=Transport and General Workers Union obliged to picket London’s South Africa House, again=

COSATU is shocked and embarrassed for our country, to learn that it became necessary for leaders of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, which we know with great affection as the “T&G”, to picket South Africa House in Trafalgar Square, London, yesterday.

The T&G has been one of the most faithful, consistent and reliable friends and supporters of the South African liberation movement for decades. The very first exiles who arrived in Britain have told us of the solidarity shown to them by T&G members, for example Sid Easton of the London Hackney Carriage section of that union.

From those early days and throughout our struggle the T&G never flinched or stinted their assistance to our fight for democracy and basic freedoms, including the right to organise as workers.

Now we find that the South African High Commission in London is refusing to recognise ordinary trade union representation of locally employed workers, organised by the T&G.

We have to wonder what has come over our diplomats if they think that they can reverse the whole character of our struggle and refuse the very same rights we fought for, for so many years, to ordinary workers in London.

It is very regrettable that the workers in a union that time and again stood shoulder to shoulder with the Anti-Apartheid Movement and the African National Congress on the pavement, or even in the gutter, outside South Africa House when it represented the apartheid regime, in the presence of the London “bobbies” (police), should have to return again on an English winter’s day, so many years later, for the sake of rights which are guaranteed for South Africans in South Africa, thanks among others to the T&G.

COSATU fully expects to hear of a speedy resolution to this dispute in the form of full recognition of the T&G as the union representing the SA High Commission workers. Anything less would be a public, international disgrace for South Africa.

COSATU will monitor the situation closely and consider what to do if there is any delay in this matter.


 * National Spokesperson:**


 * Patrick Craven**
 * 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/ 086 603 9667**
 * Cell: 0828217456**
 * E-Mail: patrick@cosatu.org.za**

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