COSATU+Jobs+and+Poverty+Campaign+General+Strike+18+May+2006

COSATU Jobs and Poverty Campaign
=General Strike - 18 May 2006=


 * First report – 13h00**

Reports from around the country indicate that there was a brilliant turnout at the 22 marches and rallies held today in support of COSATU’s general strike. The total number of workers on the marches was over 230 000, despite the cold weather and rain which effected the attendance in some areas in E. Cape, N. Cape and Free State.

The response by farmworkers and the overall attendance in the rural local marches was particularly good, as was the turnout of workers in the public sector, mineworkers and metalworkers and the closure of some shops in the city centres.

Johannesburg: A massive number of 50 000 workers flooded the streets of central Johannesburg. Memorandums were handed in to representatives of mining, engineering, Telkom, Post Office, SAB and the Gauteng Department of Health employers. Marchers were addressed by COSATU General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi. There was just on unfortunate incident, at the FNB office next to premier’s office, when three white men allegedly threw a glass window on top of the marchers. Two NUMSA members (contract workers) were injured and treated at Hillbrow clinic.

Eastern Cape. In East London, all the car factories and some government offices are out on strike and 5000 workers marched. There were some 2 500 in Mthatha, 2 500 in Queenstown and a mighty 10 000 in Port Elizabeth.

Free State: There were around 7 000 in Bloemfontein, where an MEC received the memo on behalf of premier. In Qwaqwa approximately 10 000 marchers were led by COSATU 1st Deputy President, Joe Nkosi

Northern Cape: Kimberley saw 1 500 marching and there were 500 at both Kuruman and De Aar. There were 1 000 at Upington and 300 at Springbok.

Cape Town: Despite the march being cancelled, many workers arrived at the assembly point, where they were redirected to the indoor rally at the Good Hope Centre. Elsewhere in the Western Cape there were 500 each at rallies in Oudtshorn and George.

North West: There were excellent attendance in Klerksdorp (10 000), Rustenburg (10000), Brits (2000) and Vryburg (5000). At Mafikeng approx 2 000 workers but the march was delayed as permission had not been granted. Permission was granted but marchers were not allowed to enter the Legislature. Arrangements made to hand over memo at entrance. Municipal workers supported the strike and there were 3 000 at end of day.

KZN: There is a huge attendance of 20 000 in Durban and 4 500 in Newcastle

Limpopo: Polokwane town centre was at a standstill, as 10 000 marched. At Lephalale approximately 2 000 marched, the majority form SACCAWU, NUM, FAWU, SAMWU and some public sector unions attended in numbers. At Thohoyandou there were 6000 and at Tzaneen approximately 5000 marching.

Mpumalanga: There were over 25 000 at the rally in Nelspruit, where workers came from Bethel, Bushbuckridge, Barberton, Middleburg, Elukwatini, Ermelo, Graskop and many other towns.

The National Union of Mineworkers reports the following good responses in their regions:


 * WC- 60% support
 * PWV-70% -support
 * Carletonville – 20% support
 * Klerksdorp -85% support
 * Free State – 90% support
 * Highveld-60% support
 * Rustenburg-70% support
 * Kimberley -50% support
 * E Cape- 40% support
 * KZN- 60% support
 * Polokwane-70% support

The following report was issued 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: 100 000 on strike.

Today's COSATU national strike was strongly supported by workers in the clothing and textile industry. In figures available at 1pm today, 71% of workers nationally supported the protest action against job losses.

This is based on a survey conducted by the union this morning, covering 501 clothing, textile and leather companies employing a total of 83 000 workers, nationally, based on information supplied by company employer representatives and/or shop stewards.

If this trend holds for the rest of the industry, this means that more than 100 000 workers in the sector have come out on strike. This represents a sample size of about three quarters of SACTWU’s 110 000 members in the industry, nationally.

In the Western Cape, 81% of workers in the industry have supported the protest action by leaving their workplaces and going home, since the march scheduled for Cape Town today has been called off. In this region, most workers left their workplaces after the morning tea break, to join the protest action. Large companies such Charmfit in Epping Industria (with 900 workers), Jacque Hau in Athlone (with 400 workers), Monviso in Epping (with 1 000), Pepclo in Parow Industria (with about 1 800 workers) and Bonwit in Landsdowne (with 1000 workers) were completely closed.

In Gauteng, 75% of workers in the industry have supported the protest action. Companies such Standarton Mills in Standerton (with 450 workers), Mega Bags on the West Rand (with 215 workers) and Fieldswear (with 400 workers) were completely closed.

In KZN 64% of workers in the industry supported the protest action. Large companies such Playtex in Durban (with 1 300 workers), Blue Bell in Isithebe (with 800 workers), Denim Textiles in Hammersdale (with 300 workers), Cambridge in Tongaat (with 380 workers) and Allwear in Newcastle (with 1 200 workers) were effectively closed.

In the Eastern Cape, 50% of the industry supported the protest action. Companies such Stroud Riley in Port Elizabeth (with 84 workers), Nadkim Clothing in Port Elizabeth (with 390 workers) and Castellano in East London (with 400 workers), were effectively closed.

In the union’s Central Region (QwaQwa & Botshabelo) 61% of workers in the industry supported the protest action. Companies such Diva Fashions (with 300 workers), K & R Clothing (with 140 workers), Anying (with 150 workers), Top Denim (with 180 workers), Apple Jean (with 180 workers) and MJN Manufacturers (with 142 workers) were completely closed.

Besides participating in the marches in the major cities such as Durban, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg, and QwaQwa, thousands of SACTWU members also marched in other decentralised areas.

The job loss database of the Southern African Labour Research Institute (SALRI) shows that, since 2003, approximately 62 000 formal jobs were lost in the clothing, textile and leather industries. Over the same period, imports from China have grown by 480%.

Cosatu tabled a request to retailers to commit to buying 75 percent of their goods from local manufacturers, but the large retailers have all refused to make this commitment.

Clothing retailer profits are at historic highs and employment in clothing manufacturing is at a historic low. Unfortunately, the sourcing practices of the retailers are at the heart of the job losses of workers in manufacturing.


 * Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)**
 * 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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