Swaziland newsletter extra

COSATU backs Swaziland general strike

The Congress of South African Trade Unions gives its full support to the
national strike on 25-26 July 2007 called by the Swaziland Federation of
Labour (SFL), the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) and the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT). COSATU sends a
message of solidarity to struggle of the oppressed workers of Africa's
last monarchist dictatorship.
The unions are making the following demands:
1. Taxation of terminal benefits and other benefits. Workers say
government should desist from increasing its revenue base by taxing
benefits, which would have adverse effect on some lowly paid workers.
2. Amendment of the Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) Order.
Workers propose an amendment to allow payment of SNPF benefits to all
employees who have been retrenched, on production of such confirmation
from the employer. The unions say the process cannot be endless, as
workers leave employment and fall into an abyss, with no meaningful
income to take their children to even a year of primary school after
their departure from meaningful employment. Without even funds to start
some small informal business as their monies are tied up at SNPF, such
workers are left in need.
3. Application of part X111 of the Employment Act of 1980 of the tender
board on public contracts. "The Section aims to ensure that
contractors/service providers paid out of public funds adhere to basic
minimum standards as provided for in the various Wages Orders," say the
unions. This is an important control against granting of contracts to
companies that violate basic workers' rights.
4. Consultation with the public on privatisation. The unions believe the
government is proceeding with the privatisation policy without proper
consultation. "Labour is, of course," say the unions, "opposed to
privatisation because we are unable to see what benefits are there for
the nation and by this, we do not mean the select few. No wonder
government is not even engaging in the debate about it!"
5. 2008 Parliamentary election to be held under a multiparty system.
On 12 April 2007 COSATU and its allies demonstrated at all the borders
between Swaziland and South Africa in its ongoing campaign in support of
the workers and oppressed people of Swaziland in their struggle for
freedom, democracy and human rights. We noted with serious concern:
* The gross abuse of human rights still being perpetrated by the
government against the Swazi people, in particular workers, youth and
political activists;
* The arbitrary arrests of political activists by the Royal Police and
the Royal Army;
* The banning of political parties which are promoting the rights of the
workers and the poor;
* The lack of any involvement of the people in the constitutional review
process launched by the King;
* The Royal Family's use of state institutions, and money from the
pockets of the Swazi people, at the expense of other socio-economic
priorities;
* The abject poverty of the majority of the people;
* The lack of access to education, healthcare, water, electricity and
other basic services, which are denied to the majority, but provided for
an elite;
* The tragic increase in the rate of HIV/AIDS amongst the people, and
the King's ban on all awareness-raising programmes, education and
mobilisation of people to fight the epidemic.

All these issues remain unresolved. In solidarity with the Swaziland
trade unions, COSATU repeats its demand for:
1. The immediate cessation of torture, abuse and the abominable
conditions in jails;
2. The immediate and unconditional release of political activists,
particularly members of the opposition PUDEMO, from jail and the
dropping of all charges;
3. The immediate un-banning of all political parties, the unconditional
return of all exiles and cessation of political hostilities;
4. A broad forum open to all the political forces to investigate the
human rights abuses perpetrated or condoned by the Royal Family;
5. That the country's wealth be shared amongst the people, and
redistributed to meet people's basic needs;
6. That state resources be redirected from the Royal Family and be used
to serve the needs and interest of the people.
COSATU will continue to campaign alongside the abused and downtrodden
Swaziland people in their fight against neo-colonial and semi-feudalist
rule, sends its best wishes to the trade unions for success in their
strike and promises its support.
An injury to one is an injury to all!
Workers of the world unite!
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@...



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