[DEBATE] : WOOLWORTHS DISPUTE SETTLED

[Dominic Tweedie]

Hi Caroline,

I re-sent the original SACCAWU e-mail on our (COSATU) list because our list
reaches a lot more journalists than the SACCAWU one at present, and this
does seem to be an important announcement. Then I posted it on the debate
list.

I recommend that you contact Mike Abrahams at SACCAWU, especially if you are
writing about this. But do also note that the message says that the workers
would only be returning to work tomorrow (Friday).

It would not be all that remarkable, although unfortunate, if an individual
worker had not yet received the news. It is in the nature of negotiation
that it is apt to come to an abrupt conclusion at the time of maximum
solidarity, leaving the negotiators with a formidable task of communicating
the result and leading an orderly and speedy return to work. I think that
SACCAWU have been in the habit of reporting back on progress to mass
meetings at weekends, whereas this breakthrough came in mid-week.

Obviously it is in everybody's best interest, including the workers', if
Woolworths now gets back to business in full force, and that the whole
workforce formally signs up with the union.

These are my own remarks, not made on behalf of COSATU or SACCAWU.

With best wishes,

Dominic.



2008/10/23 Caroline O'Reilly <coreilly at imaginet.co.za>

> can you please confirm this Dominic? I spoke to a Woolworth's worker today
> and she assured me that they are still very much on strike and said that
> what I had got was misinformation.
>
>
>