Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 Originator: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: "Nowetu Mpati" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Press statement around BCEA follows... Press Statement 29th July, 1997 SERVICE STOPPAGE LIKELY AS THOUSANDS OF MUNICIPAL WORKERS HEED COSATU'S CALL FOR MASS ACTION The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) would like to declare its full support for COSATU's rolling mass action, which begins on Monday. By threatening to withdraw the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill from Parliament, Minister Tito Mboweni is leaving municipal workers with no other choice but to stop services and take to the streets in support of the COSATU demand for basic rights. Minister Mboweni would do well to remember that the demand for a 40 hour week was first made by workers over 100 years ago, and is legislated in many countries today. It is of great concern to SAMWU that the Minister would think of allowing Business South Africa to block the inevitable transformation that workers have fought so hard for, and lost their lives for, in the past. This transformation and extension of worker rights was promised to the masses during the ANC campaign prior to the 1994 elections - was this merely an empty promise? The stalemate between workers and business has gone on for long enough! Every day that the Bill is delayed is to the disadvantage of thousands of workers who remain with no more rights than they had under apartheid. It is unacceptable to SAMWU that Minister Mboweni simply abdicate responsibility for millions of workers by threatening to abandon the Bill - if the Minister cannot see the bill being resolved by NEDLAC in the near future, he should take the road of a true democrat by allowing the Bill to be negotiated through Parliament. SAMWU members are ready to take to the streets in their thousands to fight for the COSATU demands!
