Letters

Dear Numsa NewsIt is hard to keep quiet about the situation that I observe most of the time. I am worried about things that are happening in the organization. The graph of level of debate is sloping down in a worrying way.

I am saying this because I have learned that all pieces of laws or constitution or policy emanate from robust debate that most us have graduated from. I have seen this from local level to the higher collective level.

Today people are shy to raise issues especially shop stewards who are worker delegates. My grave concern is how are we going to practice this thing “worker control”? I am proud to raise this because I have seen with my own naked eyes Numsa debating and leading resolutions at the level of the federation.

I think it is upon us metalworkers to share my narrow vision and come up with a solution.

We need to remedy the situation before it’s too late. I am saying this because of the advanced resources that we have. The thing that exhausts members’ debating energy is when they attack a person.

To me this is ‘man-playing’ not football-playing.From the regional educator’s point of view I think they should come and inject the pill of debate. We should also reduce these formal meetings to informal ones.

In the last national congress there was a concern raised by worker delegates saying things being done are pushed by employees of Numsa. Workers should create these things and lead them to resolution.I am not saying all these things because I want to create smoke without fire.

Any negative reaction to these must be informed by brief research and analysis of facts.Let the revolution continue for the realization of our mission.Jack Mamabolo, Johannesburg North local

Dear Numsa NewsThe rationale behind my story is informed by one of the Freedom Charter’s main pillars which says the “wealth of the country shall be distributed amongst all”.

As people of this country and workers in general I believe that we have made enough sacrifices. This is in line with the compromises that were made during Codesa negotiations about keeping the economy of this country in the hands of the few, including our own so-called black economic empowerment (BEE) fat cats.

We have heard the praises of the world community about our economy, and also the statistics that our economy was showing steady growth. But all this has been happening at the expense of our people and workers in general.

We have kept quiet for too long – labour brokers, agents, casualisation – you name it, are destroying the fabric of our society, community.These people told us that in order for us to survive we need to work for them.

When they see that working full-time was benefiting us they change the system to that of casuals etc.Yes, we’ve got labour laws in this country that deal with this but the employer has the money to work around these laws.

Even our BEE brothers are failing to set an example by refusing to employ our people on a full-time basis. They choose to “get rich quick” by employing workers as casuals forever through brokers or sub-contractors.

Let us make capital work for us. For too long this economy has worked against us since the dream of socialism is still at a distance.Most white employers are still top on my list employing workers on a full-time basis with benefits and when it comes to respecting labour laws.

Other nations are trying but the biggest percentage of them is exploiting our people at the expense of wealth distribution. They claim it is better to have half a loaf of bread than nothing at all.

Who are they to tell us in our own country how to distribute wealth that was built by sweat, blood and tears of our forefathers earning peanuts at the time?If we want our country’s economy to grow our way we need to use methods that are tailor-made for our country.

If you employ workers on a full-time basis earning a living wage automatically you are creating jobs in service sectors/industries and other sectors of our economy.

People/workers will have buying power, you are keeping those businesses sustained and not closing down. People will feel that our government has done something for them and the small dream of distribution of wealth will be realized.

The government must stop being greedy when selling state-owned businesses to their €˜chommies’.They must try and get the best managers to run those companies.

We have brothers and sisters who have left for greener pastures who can easily come back with lots of experience and run those state-owned enterprises. By so doing they can easily create some jobs on these government-owned companies.

Workers want tangible results or history will judge us wrong that we had the opportunity to rectify things but we were scared to talk.Gordon Sithole, organiser, South Coast local

Dear Numsa NewsWorkers at Volkswagen SA are facing a heavy price including losing their jobs if they do not put their heads together and come up with a solution sooner rather than later.It is becoming clear that narrow, sectarian and dogmatic notions by trade union leaders and workers on the factory floor will have to give.

The worst kind of exploitation is currently taking place at Volkswagen while workers and shop stewards are fighting one another.

My fellow workers, one thing you should remember, we have fought hard and vigorously for union recognition, and if today we are beginning to reap those benefits, “Siyakukhal' ezimantshiyane”.

Currently it is said that management wants to make sure that “overtime banking” is implemented and if it is, there will be no turning back. Management is trying to make sure that the main department – body shop – is run by robots.

This is a clear indication that they are planning to run the plant with less workers but producing the same volumes.

The latest proposals on “absence sick policy” and “absence pool” are also the worst kind of exploitation.I appeal to workers in general irrespective of their different opinions, to make sure that unity amongst workers should be treated as a priority.

The time has come for us to stop fighting a losing battle. Let's start campaigning to mobilise and educate workers about the war against redundancy and retrenchments in the name of the international economic meltdown. Vuyisile Fundakubi, VWSA

Source

Numsa News