COSATU,+A+March+to+remember+in+1946



=COSATU – A March to remember in 1946=

The Congress of South African Trade Unions deeply regrets that the media gave no coverage to the march to the Chamber of Mines by thousands of members of the National Union of Mineworkers on 12 August 2006, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic 1946 mineworkers’ strike.

This was a major demonstration of remembrance, solidarity and rededication, by workers who made huge sacrifices in the national liberation struggle, and continue to suffer death and industry in dangerous and unhealthy working conditions. The 1946 strike is rich in lessons for today’s struggles around COSATU’s Jobs and Poverty Campaign. This could have been a fascinating story for the media.

There has been similarly scant coverage of the 12-week strike by workers at Kraft Foods, who are courageously fighting against a ruthless international employer who has reduced its offer to the workers in the course of the strike.

This forms part of a trend by the media to focus on strikes only when there are violent incidents or major disruption. There is an urgent need for a daily left-wing newspaper which accurately portrays the lives and problems of workers and the poor and gives them a voice.


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

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