COSATU+27+June+final+report



=COSATU thanks workers for mass support=


 * (Final Report, 18h25)**

//June 27, 2005//
COSATU is very pleased with the massive support for the stayaway today to demand an end to joblessness and poverty. Workers have made a clear statement that both employers and the government must do more to address the current crisis of retrenchments, to support job creation, and to improve conditions of work.

Huge demonstrations were held in all the major centres as well as many smaller towns, including – for the first time ever – in Ulundi. In addition, millions of workers stayed away from work. The strike varied by region, sector and enterprise, but many major employers reported that they had had to limit or close down production for the day.

The strike was backed by a host of civil society organisations, including the SACP, the Communist Youth League, the ANC Youth League, the SACC, SANGOCO and the student movement. COSATU appreciates their support.

The extent of support confirms that unemployment and job losses are by far the biggest concern of our people. Today also highlights the power of organised workers, which neither business nor govt can afford to ignore. We reiterate that unemployment and poverty should be declared a national emergency with every government policy redirected to priorities creation of decent work.

Well over two million workers supported the strike, with at least half a million participating in more than 20 marches in all the provinces on our country. This points to support from workers who are not COSATU’s members, including from Solidarity, which backed the strike.

Various factors point to mass support for today’s action.


 * Most of the mines, auto producers, engineering and clothing factories admit to complete or partial closure as a result of the strike. They include VW, Mercedes Benz and Toyota; in clothing, Spilo, House of Monatic, Charmfit, Playtex, Durban Clothing, Aranda Blanket, Standerton Mills, Da Gama and Industex; and almost all the platinum and gold mines. Telkom was closed in Rustenburg, as was Pick’n’Pay in Polokwane. Highveld Steel shut down.
 * The size of the demonstrations nationwide in themselves suggests huge and unprecedented support. As always, many workers who joined the strike did not participate in the demonstrations. Still, the extent of the marches points to strong support.
 * The transport network in many areas, including buses hired by unions, was overwhelmed by those going to the demonstration. Entire city blocks in downtown Johannesburg were clogged with buses hired by workers. In many areas, for instance in Atlantis in the Western Cape, workers were unable to attend the demonstration for lack of transport. With more busses and trains available, we would have seen even bigger numbers in the marches.

The national and provincial public service, and especially the health and security sectors, was not legally allowed to strike. Most other public servants work in education, but the schools are on leave so it was impossible to assess their support. According to NEHAWU, many workers in the rest of the public sector supported the strike.

We note that SACOB and some conservative so-called labour analysts have tried to play down the impact of the strike. There are various reasons for this.


 * Employers have an interest in denying the strength of workers’ organisation, both to undercut its voice in national debates and to sway public opinion. In every strike, at enterprise, sectoral or national level, employers routinely understate workers’ participation.
 * Employer organisations do not have systems to get systematic reports from member companies, so their assessments of worker participation in national strikes are inevitably based on ideological stances and anecdotes rather than comprehensive surveys.
 * In contrast, COSATU put in place a comprehensive monitoring network across the length and breadth of our country. Every industrial area in the country, every town and rural area had a person reporting to the 160 COSATU locals, which in turn fed information to our provinces and Head Office. Every COSATU union had similar monitoring mechanisms. We attach a detailed report from SACTWU on participation in the clothing sector.
 * In today’s strike, early reports on participation were necessarily misleading, since many workers went to work and only left to join the demonstrations in the middle of the morning.

In the circumstances, the press should seek to verify strike reports directly in the workplace. Where that is not possible, at least they should take employer reports with a pinch of salt, and weigh them against the reports of COSATU’s monitors.

We salute our members for the disciplined manner in which they conducted themselves.



=Report by the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) on Support by Clothing, Textile and Leather workers for today’s COSATU protest action against job losses=

Preliminary indications are that approximately 86% of workers in the clothing, textile and leather industries nationally have supported today’s COSATU protest action against job losses.

This means that, if current trends persists, approximately 159 100 out of a total of 185 000 workers employed nationally in the industry have supported the protest action.

This is based on a survey conducted by the union this morning, covering 291 clothing, textile and leather companies employing a total of 59 279 workers, nationally.

This represents a sample of 56% of SACTWU’s 105 328 members nationally.

In the Western Cape, 82% workers in the industry have supported the protest action. In this region, workers left their workplaces after the morning tea break, to join the protest action. Large companies such Spilo in Paarl (with 400 workers), House of Monatic in Salt River (with 970 workers), Cygnet in Epping (with 400 workers), and Charmfit in Epping (with 800 workers) were completely closed.

In the KZN, 89% of workers in the industry have supported the protest action. Large companies such Playtex in Durban (with 1 400 workers), and Durban Clothing Manufacturers (with 800 workers) were completely closed.

In the Gauteng, 89% of workers in the industry supported the protest action. Large companies such Aranda Blanket Manufacturers (with 500 workers), and Standerton Mills in Standerton (with 500 workers) were completely closed.

In the Eastern Cape, 92% of the industry supported the protest action. Large companies such Da Gama in Zwelistha (with 1 600 workers), and Industex in Port Elizabeth (with 600 workers) were completely closed. (with 411 workers) were completely closed.

Congress of South African Trade Unions Cell: 082 491 1591 Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24 Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940 E-Mail: paul@cosatu.org.za**
 * Paul Notyhawa (Spoksperson)