[DEBATE] : (Fwd) Cosatu hits three more provinces on Wednesday

Mon Jul 14 20:37:35 BST 2008

*Media alert*

* *

*More strike action on the electricity crisis*

*Mpumalanga, Free State and Northern Cape *

*16 July 2008*

On Wednesday 16 July 2008 the Congress of South African Trade Unions 
will continue with its strike action and demonstrations on the issue of 
the electricity crisis in South Africa, in Mpumalanga, Free State and 
Northern Cape. Full details of the activities are listed below.

The strike action is in accordance with COSATU's Notice under Section 77 
(1) (b) of the Labour Relations Act, dated 13 March 2008, in response to 
the danger of retrenchments in the mining sector and elsewhere due to 
Eskom's decision to reduce electricity supply to industry and its threat 
to oppose any new major construction initiatives. 

COSATU is further concerned that Eskom's 27.5% tariff increase, which 
municipalities can increase still further, will put thousands more jobs 
at risk, as companies, already facing massive increases in the cost of 
fuel and interest rates, try to balance their books by retrenching 
workers, or may be forced to close down.

COSATU acknowledges that the current power-cuts and power shortages 
constitute a national crisis which affects all South Africans. We will 
work actively and constructively to help manage the power-shortage and 
to find a lasting solution, but are adamant that workers should not be 
asked to pay for government's failure to invest in electricity in the 
late 1990s, as a result of its plans to privatise Eskom and do nothing 
when it was warned about the amount of investment that would be required 
to meet the expected rise in demand for power in the future.

Workers can rest assured that all those who participate in the strike 
will be protected by law and cannot legally be victimised or punished, 
except for those performing genuinely essential services and who do 
essential maintenance work.

The action will then continue on 23 July 2008 in Gauteng, Eastern Cape, 
North West and Limpopo and culminate in a national strike on 6 August.

*_ _*

*_Deployment for 16 July Provincial Strikes_*

* *

*Province*

*Venue and activity: All starting at 10h00*

*Contact*

*Main speaker*

1. Mpumalanga

Nelspruit: gather outside showground  March to Eskom

Mapetla Mashele

078 323 0735

Thobile Ntola, SADTU Deputy President

Witbank: gather at Broadway  garage parking 

March to  Eskom

Leah  Khoza

076 842 5795

Sidumo Dlamini, COSATU President

Secunda: gather at open space next to Secunda Graveyard. March to 
Police  Station where  employers  will  receive  memorandum

Petros  Sehlabela

076 051 1908

Welile Nolingo, CEPPWAWU General Secretary

Kwa Mhlanga: gather at Kwaggafontein Hall

March to  Kwagga-plaza  Shoprite

Issy  Thwala

082 885 5949

013 947 3079

Bones Skulu, SACCAWU General Secretary

Bushbuckridge: gather at Twincity Complex

March to Police Station 

Pretty  Makhubedu

072 212 4090

Abbey Witbooi, POPCRU General Secretary

Ermelo: gather at Mpumalanga Stadium 

March to Checkers Mall

Ellias  Shabangu

082 974 6480

Mabutho Sithole, CWUSA President

Nkomazi: gather at Old Taxi  Rank

March to Civic Old Taxi  Rank to  Civic  Centre

James  Mhlabane

082 372 6653

Lulamile Sotaka, NEHAWU First Deputy President

2. Free State

Bloemfontein: gather at Pax Nova Maguang

March to the Premiers Office in Saint Andrews Street

Sam Mashinini

082 563 6955

Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU Deputy General Secretary

3. Northern Cape

Kimberley: gather at Open Air Arena

March to Eskom in Saint George Street and to National Institute of 
Higher Learning

William Sikali

082 491 1591

Zwelinzima Vavi, COSATU General Secretary

De Aar: Details to follow

Ntamehlo

083 294 0237

Keith Jacobs, CEPPWAWU Deputy General Secretary

Upington: Details to follow

Joyce Muller

076 416 5446

Derrick Elbrecht, NUM National Treasurer

Kuruman: Stayaway, Details to follow

Patrick Mngoma

082 484 6751

Daniel Van Wyk, PAWUSA General Secretary

Springbok:  will hold a motorcade, Details to follow

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 at cosatu.org.za <mailto:patrick at cosatu.org.za>

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