[PEN-L:11540] Labour tensions in South Africa

[D Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997
Originator: cospress@xxxxxxxxxx
From: "Nowetu Mpati" <nowetu@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Press statement around BCEA follows...

Press Statement					29th  July, 1997

SERVICE STOPPAGE LIKELY AS THOUSANDS OF
MUNICIPAL WORKERS HEED COSATU'S CALL FOR MASS
ACTION

The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) would like
to declare its full support for COSATU's rolling mass action, which
begins on Monday.

By threatening to withdraw the Basic Conditions of Employment
Bill from Parliament, Minister Tito Mboweni is leaving municipal
workers with no other choice but to stop services and take to the
streets in support of the COSATU demand for basic rights.

Minister Mboweni would do well to remember that the demand
for a 40 hour week was first made by workers over 100 years ago,
and is legislated in many countries today. It is of great concern to
SAMWU that the Minister would think of allowing Business
South Africa to block the inevitable transformation that workers
have fought so hard for, and lost their lives for, in the past. This
transformation and extension of worker rights was promised to
the masses during the ANC campaign prior to the 1994 elections -
was this merely an empty promise?

The stalemate between workers and business has gone on for long
enough! Every day that the Bill is delayed is to the disadvantage of
thousands of workers who remain with no more rights than they
had under apartheid. It is unacceptable to SAMWU that
Minister Mboweni simply abdicate responsibility for millions of
workers by threatening to abandon the Bill - if the Minister
cannot see the bill being resolved by NEDLAC in the near future,
he should take the road of a true democrat by allowing the Bill to
be negotiated through Parliament.

SAMWU members are ready to take to the streets in their thousands
to fight for the COSATU demands!