Durban - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in KwaZulu-Natal has committed to increase its service to vulnerable workers in the province.
“Cosatu is the only hope for vulnerable workers, who are found in all sectors of the workplace. We see the need to do more real work to serving our members, while others use the plight of workers to pursue other political ambitions,” provincial secretary Edwin Mkhize said on Sunday.
Mkhize made the comments after a bank employee approached their offices on Thursday after allegedly being unfairly and summarily dismissed from his employment.
“This worker joins the pool of other workers we meet daily as Cosatu, whose matters rise from unfair treatment to victimisation and subsequently unfair dismissal,” he said.
Mkhize also said Cosatu would ensure it reversed what it described as ill-treatment of its members.
“This is the offensive we see employers waging against our workers, and we call for our unions to step up radical action against employers who have no respect of the labour laws and rights of workers,” Mkhize added.
He called on shop stewards and organisers to be real servants of the workers.
“There is a need to force companies to comply with new Labour Law amendments on Section 198 Employment Services Act, which seeks to discourage exploitation of workers through temporary employment by companies and labour brokers.”
He also said Cosatu unions would increase the fight against retrenchments and outsourcing in parastatals such as Eskom, the Post Office and others.
“We are already working with many of our unions in different sectors, but workers must be prepared to pledge solidarity and fight against exploitation of man by man,” Mkhize said.
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) will not escape the brunt of the labour federation.
Mkhize said they wanted an investigation into the transformation at the CCMA in KZN and their performance management systems applicable to work of its employees.
He said the provincial branch of the CCMA has, out of eight full-time senior management (personnel), six Indians, one is black African and another being vacant.
“This is not a racial sentiment since Cosatu is a non-racial progressive labour movement, but it has to do with the issue of the extent it demoralises workers and commissioners in the commission.”
Mkhize added that Cosatu was concerned about the performance management system imposed on the work of commissioners.
“As demanded by its performance management system that commissioners must meet 70% settlement rate to be considered as productive, this stands a chance of being abused to neglect the critical part of job retention,” Mkhize said, adding that Cosatu intended to engage the CCMA on these matters.
CCMA spokeswoman, Laura Mseme, said she was unaware of Cosatu KZN’s statement and promised to respond on Monday.
Daily News