NALEDI+Newsletter,+June+2005



=NALEDI= National Labour & Economic Development Institute

E-Newsletter 24 June 2005 Vol.2 Number.4


 * **News –** **“The Take”**
 * **Projects & Publications –Mining Africa: South African Mining MNCs in Africa and Articles on National Strike**
 * **Calendar of Events – Month of June 2005**


 * NEWS**
 * //The Take: Occupy. Resist. Produce.//**

NALEDI was proud to host a special screening of “The Take” a documentary on Argentinean retrenched workers on June 19, 2005 to an enthusiastic audience and representatives from social movements, labour, political parties and members of the public. Discussing the struggle and victory of the workers in successfully reclaiming their lives by taking over abandoned factories, director and producer, Avi Lewis and screenplay writer Naomi Klein discussed with the audience the different forms of “taking” that have helped retrenched workers reclaim their right to work. The directors also talked about how this kind of direct action were relevant to the issues of job losses and retrenchments in South Africa.

The African Labour Research Network (ALRN) released its second report which examines the conduct and practices of multinational companies operating in Africa. The 2004 report explored the practices of South African gold mining magnates with mines on the African continent. The report findings are essential for local and international trade unions. It serves as an ideal resource to the discourse on the impact of globalisation on labour by providing primary data on labour practices of MNCs Anglogold Ashanti was studies in Tanzania, Namibia and Zimbabwe, while Goldfields was studies in Ghana and South Africa. In Zambia it focused on Metorex Ltd, which is engaged in coal mining. Some of the key findings include excessive working hours, poverty wage levels, non compliance or delayed implementation of collective agreements, undermining national legislation, refusal to recognise the union, etc. [|http://www.alrn.org]
 * PROJECTS & PUBLICATIONS**
 * //Mining Africa: South African MNC’s labour and social performances//**
 * //1. Mining Africa: Freda Rebecca- Zimbabwe, Ashanti Goldfields//**


 * //2. End job losses! Fight poverty and unemployment//**

This article explains the crisis facing the South African community in curbing poverty and unemployment and the demands of COSATU as it embarks on a national strike. The document sheds insight into the federation’s demands to business and government and its proposals on remedial steps. __http://www.naledi.org.za/docs/cosatu_jobsstrike.pdf__


 * //3. Job crisis in the clothing, textile, footwear and leather industry.//**

The South African clothing, textile, footwear and leather industry is one of the three sectors that is severely affected by job losses. According to the article the sector has shed 43 588 jobs between 2003 and April this year. This has a massive social impact as the industry is a significant employer of women and located in specific geographical areas where it is a substantial employer. __http://www.naledi.org.za/docs/sactwu_jobsstrike.pdf__

//Date: 27 June 2005// //Event: **Mass Action on Job Losses**//
 * CALENDAR OF EVENTS**

South African workers, NGO’s and members of the public are to unite on the 27 June 2005 to protest against the job losses and retrenchments that are decimating the country. Announcements of venues and arrangements are available on the COSATU website.

//Date: 6-7 July 2005// //Event: **Web skills and web marketing training workshop**//

NALEDI, in conjunction with Wage Indicator Foundation, will host a two day training workshop on website skills, content writing and web site marketing for COSATU affiliated media and administrative staff. Please contact Buhle Zuma (buhle@naledi.org.za).

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 * Contact NALEDI:** Telephone: +27 11 403 21 22 Fax: +27 11 403 19 48 Email: buhle@naledi.org.za Website: [|www.naledi.org.za]
 * Contact NALEDI:** Telephone: +27 11 403 21 22 Fax: +27 11 403 19 48 Email: buhle@naledi.org.za Website: [|www.naledi.org.za]