FAWU Salutes The Late Andrew Mlangeni

FAWU States Alcohol Ban Is At The Expense of Workers

Food and Allied Workers' Union (F.A.W.U.) notes with major dissatisfaction the announcement to immediately ban alcohol by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 12 July 2020 .

FAWU represents the majority of workers in the liquor industry ranging from beer, wine, spirit ciders and the entire value chain,  which in many ways will be adversely affected by the announcement. FAWU members are outraged about this decision as it degrade them as human beings with families who should have been given an opportunity to prepare before complying with the regulations.

This sudden and shocking announcement with immediate effect meant that our members had to at night engage employers to solicit an understanding of not going to work on the following day as workers may be accused of being absent. It meant that those who are night shift workers had to be released to go home at night and it is left for them to make sure they are fully paid, that is if there is transport at night. It meant that those who are truck drivers doing night shift are declared to have broken the law while on the road just after the address of the President.  

On the larger scope of this decision, it means those who are surviving through selling beers in townships and have used the larger part of the money they have to stock beers or other type of alcohol products must see to it as to how they will survive as their last cents would have otherwise been used to buy food for the period of alcohol ban , which they do not know the duration of.

This goes to show how irrational this decision was for having not given people an opportunity to prepare for the decision of the government. The decision was announced with no meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, including unions. Instead, the government only announced the reasons for government to ban alcohol which, on its own, has been questionable as we believe authorities would not have successfully substantiated its reasoning, on the same address by the President.  There was nothing to address on the implications and suffering of workers, in particular those who are employed in the sector. The process towards banning alcohol was therefore a one-sided approach with no regard for the effect on our members and  the industry as a whole.

At one stage, FAWU had to protect its members in the same sector when employers wanted to attack them to reduce their salaries by 10% per employee every month. Workers should not be the ones to fund any shortfall because of this reckless decision of  government while it remains silent on the impact this will have on workers. On the other hand, employers (especially multinational companies) are expected to have had contingency plans during the period within which the businesses were allowed to operate. The government must therefore play its role to mitigate deficiencies that shall be faced by the people of South Africa who survive by selling alcohol.

Since distribution is also banned, some companies do not transport alcohol directly to the market. Some employers may still do primary distribution from manufacturing departments to the depot/warehouse and members have already raised their fears about the  risk of being detained by law enforcement agencies because  this announcement was implemented with immediate effect.

Out of the lowest earners,  one worker supports a family of more than five people and for them it remains the only source of income. The loss of each job contributes to many members of the society being subjected to hunger.

This decision came at a time when government is very much aware that the country had  already exceeded the 10.2 million unemployed persons who already struggle to survive and are now joined by thousands more who are being retrenched. The growth of the unemployment figure is a sure invitation to respond to socio-economic challenges. One of the most important challenge of the government is to accept that the current economic policies do not respond to the crisis of unemployment, poverty, and inequalities.

All decisions by government are by law in the form of regulations as pronounced. On the other hand, government is afraid to put a moratorium to employers on retrenchments or salary and benefit cuts since there is also no law that relating to COVID-19 and retrenchment.  There is nothing lawful or justify dismissing workers on a permanent basis while businesses will continue to operate after lockdown or on some of the other levels unless it is closing for other reasons. The government’s silence on ways to protect the jobs in this sector, is assisting bosses to retrench thousands of workers to be replaced by labour brokers after COVID-19 era and goes against the grain of government’s resolve to stimulate job creation.

 

There is no law that states that the lowest paid workers should bear the full brunt of COVID-19 challenges. It is amongst the reasons why retrenchments never end, because the low salary of the majority of workers combined with given retrenchment, is too low to even cover the business costs that led to the retrenchment in the first place, whereas senior managers  who are not retrenched yet, are not displaced by law in these processes.

The revenue accumulated by the multinational companies in the alcohol business and other big businesses in the sector and in the interim after the alcohol companies were unbanned, is far higher than a small fraction of taverns and bottles stores in townships. This means the small largely black owned businesses are the one that will be hit hardest as they suffer major financial losses and the government has taken no initiative or saying nothing about them.

On the 24^th May 2020 and despite all other calls we have been making for the government to respond on a growing illicit economy, as far back as 2016, nothing thus far has been publicized by the government to respond to this call. This call, is a direct response to protect the lives of the very same people in South Africa the government is expected to protect. Illicit trade does affect this sector particularly in wine and spirits, among others. The billions the government is losing would have otherwise mitigated to fund quality PPE for health care workers amongst other requirements for the protection  of lives if illicit trade is fought against. This can be achieved only if the government accepts our call among other initiatives and respond to this crime. 

FAWU DEMANDS THE FOLLOWING FROM EMPLOYERS AND GOVERNMENT:

•   Government must involve unions and all stakeholders before any decision is taken and such a decision be accommodative to all stakeholders affected;
•  The government to issue a moratorium on retrenchments, job cuts, salary and  related benefits cuts;
•  Employers must ensure workers in non-brewing and non-alcohol jobs are working in safe working environment;
•  Employers to apportion their revenue that the businesses were accessing during their operation or any funds that were prepared to fund curbing the spread of corona virus for that package to be given to members;
• The government to pronounce on assisting the informal economy in the sector;
•   The government to come up with a comprehensive multi-discipline program to address illicit trading in the country.  

For more information, feel free to contact FAWU General Secretary Mngomezulu Mayoyo on 082 440 4039

Released by FAWU Media Liaison Officer Dominique Martin 082 498 5631

FAWU Mourns Eastern Cape Chairperson, Cde Joe Tshewu

We Bid Farewell To A Revolutionary Comrade!

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union(F.A.W.U.) is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of a dear member of our movement , comrade Jongikhaya “Joe” Tsewu, a dedicated and loyal soldier of our trade union for most of his working life.  The comrade sadly succumbed to COVID-19 on Saturday 11 July 2020.

Comrade Joe joined FAWU in the late eighties as an employee of Nestle’ in East London and has since been active as a worker leader in various union structures. Comrade Joe was a born worker leader and quickly rose through the ranks to become the chairperson of the FAWU shop stewards council and full-time shop steward at Nestle’  in East London. He was later elected as the chairperson of the Oscar Mpetha branch in East London before he was elected as provincial chairperson of the Eastern Cape recently.

His roots within the labour movement was founded and crafted by the South African Allied Workers Union (SAAWU) under the leadership of Thozamile Gqwetha, Siza Njekelana, Yure Mngyongolo, Boyce Melithafa, Sicelo Ndlevu and many activists of the Congress movement in and around the then Border area.

He was a disciplined and dedicated cadre of the ANC and led the vicious class struggle unshaken. It is clear that the old guard of the working class is quickly disappearing under the merciless attack of COVID-19. We salute you Cde Joe for a life well lived and great sacrifices made especially during the darkest days of apartheid and the Sebe regime within the Border region.

FAWU will miss you dearly and grant you all the honour you so richly deserve. May your soul rest in eternal peace.

Our sincerest condolences goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of our beloved and humble worker leader cde Joe and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.

Released by FAWU General Secretary, Mayoyo Mngomezulu on behalf of the National Office Bearers, National Executive Council, FAWU staff and members.

Black Lives Do Not Matter To The ANC

Siya Riwana 

By Siya Riwana

FAWU Eastern Cape 1st Deputy Chairperson & Community Activist

I would like to remind all South Africans not to be misled by crocodile tears shown by ANC to be in Solidarity with the black American community, which has been protesting since the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a white police man in the United States of America.

The George Floyd issue has our people up in arms over the killing of a brother by brutal law enforcers of a universally known state that has not halted black killings since the black man’s arrival to that foreign land. We are not surprised by the lack of empathy in leadership shown in dealing with such instances in America. It is only the accumulation of killings that have existed since the first ship set of slaves that arrived in that country and perpetuated from Lincoln and Trump. The difference is video evidence is used by bystanders on witnessing such events and brought to the forefront to the rest of the world. South Africa has a similar history with little change in many aspects besides having political mannequins astute with being dummies for show to the rest of the world (as black leadership). We can never forget the working class black killings in Marikana. It cannot be correct for us to endorse a Government that has not dealt with issues such as land, inequality, black poverty, and crimes against humanity.

I would like also to raise another important part-the killing of black bodies- one that does not start with being shot and assaulted by the police, but by the negotiated settlement of the ANC, which bring death to the black majority everyday through poverty and poor health care. This causes many black poor people to die from things that can be cured. A poor education system and lack of personal development offered to the black poor majority requires nothing short of being exceptional as a black child to amount to anything more than a middle class administrator. I think it's time people know that guns rarely kills us. What kills us every day is the legislated misery we exist in. 

South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world where the black majority are mostly affected, majority blacks in SA live below poverty line. Most families live below R15 a day.

Majority of blacks in South Africa lives in squatter camps and remain shack dwellers outside big cities of South Africa such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth and other small towns and rural areas.

They become casualties of shack fires by which most of these families have lost members of their families and is treated like news and tragedy that has become a norm. People should also understand and accept that they die because they are poor and they need to work hard and go to best schools in order to get out of their situation.

Blacks are in this situation of a failed negotiated political breakthrough where the ANC compromised black lives just to be in political power of administering the affairs of governance.

The land remained in the hands of the oppressor and the oppressed remained landless with nothing but their labour to sell in exchange for slave salaries that are determined by bosses.

Majority of blacks remains lambs of crucifixion till this day and the ANC is at the centre of ensuring that big corporates and financial sector remains pleased at the expense of welfare of our people. 

Mgcineni Noki and other mine workers had to be slaughtered in order to show that black lives do not matter as long as the big corporates are satisfied in looting the mineral resources of the land, these resources should have been in the hands of the very same workers who are indigenous people of the land.The land is ours but a compromise was done to perpetuate a world order of the day that keeps white domination and system of capitalism in power.

ANC and its alliance recently chose to dismiss 300 000 Members of Numsa in Cosatu and allow 130 000 FAWU members to leave COSATU, just because these workers were calling for an alternative which could benefit the majority of working class community. Because these NUMSA and FAWU workers were speaking to power they had to be crucified and be dealt with and their leadership to silence their voice. It has been twenty -six years under ANC government and yet up to date black working class in the trade union and working environment still bleeds.

ANC must be told about their sell-out status and be reminded that black lives do not matter to ANC but accumulation and looting of money from government coffers.

Recruiters from white monopoly capital has co-opted leaders and because there are no revolutionary cadres in the ANC .

An alternative solution is needed to rescue the lives of the black working class community.

Reflections On Youth Day

Commemorating The Soweto Uprisings Of 16 June 2020 

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union commemorates a somber Youth day and month in South Africa in light of the raging worldwide pandemic that we are currently experiencing. We live in challenging times while the world is waiting with uncertainty about what the future holds.

Upon reflecting on the youth today, it is disturbing to note that around 40 percent of the 20.3 million young people between the age of 15 and 34 in South Africa are not in employment, education or training of some sort.

It is even more distressing that COVID-19 has dashed the hopes of so many of our youth who were looking forward to embark on  new work opportunities and projects or to simply enter the job market. This is not a good situation in a country where the majority are unemployed, unskilled and is trying to survive on minimum wage.

Some of our youth with small start-up businesses in informal settlements were forced to lock down and put an end to their operations, which, in most cases relied on social contact with customers. Those who have finished school and tertiary education and had dreams of job opportunities were confronted with companies  clear that they are not hiring during this troubling time.

Despite all the gloominess surrounding us, we should remind ourselves that the youth is the building blocks of tomorrow and they are resilient and determined to overcome the struggles of today to create a better tomorrow.

FAWU hopes that COVID-19 does not totally derail plans by the South African government, as was announced during the 2018 Jobs Summit to expand job creation for the youth and to create more vocational and technical learning institutions. It is encouraging to see the  Youth Employment Service providing a platform for young unemployed persons to gain entry and experience in the job market.

Whilst we navigate our way through this gruelling pandemic and adjust to the fact that tomorrow cannot be guaranteed- we have to hang on to hope – for without hope we have nothing. Although we commemorate the intense sacrifices and the struggles that the youth of 1976 had to endure during this month of June 2020, one is painfully aware that we still have a long way to go particularly in terms of economic emancipation. 

FAWU Mourns Member's Passing Due To Covid-19

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union (F.A.W.U.) is deeply saddened  to announce the first COVID-19 related death on 28 May 2020 of one of our union members, comrade Monica Mphatsoane employed by RCL Food Processors in Worcester in the Western Cape . She was married and leaves behind four children. We are at a loss for words over the passing of one of our own, particularly as she and other members have expressed concerns over the number of infected employees at the plant. Our hearts and prayers go out to the bereaved family during this difficult time. 

COVID-19 regulations and the uncooperative stance of some companies in the industry makes it difficult for the union to get access to members in order to ensure that work places are practicing the appropriate precautionary measures to protect their employees.

FAWU is outraged at this RCL branch that refused to communicate with the union after various attempts to engage the company over members’ unease about how the company is dealing with positive COVID-19 cases. FAWU had to request the intervention of the Department of Labour just to establish whether the company is in compliance with COVID-19 health and safety regulations since we could not get the information from the company in the first place. While the company did shut down for a 24- hour period, members are still concerned over quarantine facilities for those who are not able to self-quarantine since many workers live in small, crowded houses. For those who were tested at state health facilities, waiting periods can take seven or more days for results. For this reason, FAWU calls on RCL to rather provide private testing for all its employees which yields quicker outcomes as we believe the latter  will assist many potentially COVID-19 positive members to get immediate medical care.

It is terribly frustrating that some companies are not forthcoming with information over their COVID-19 work place measures. This causes confusion and frustrations amongst our members who then rightfully request the involvement of the union to advise them on health and safety issues. We appeal to these companies to avoid creating panic and unnecessary fear amongst members and to allow the union to do its job whilst it adheres to COVID-19 regulations.

Food and beverage sector members were declared essential service workers during this pandemic and felt like that they had no choice but to continue working. Our members are scared to get up each day to go and work but unselfishly continues to do it to ensure food production and supply for the nation and take care of their families.

It is imperative that businesses allow unions access to members to assist them and to create awareness amongst its constituency about COVID-19 regulations and compliance in the work place as we have seen an increase in unfair labour practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contact the FAWU General Secretary Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039. Released by FAWU Media Liaison Officer, Dominique Martin -082 498 5631

FAWU Demands Government Clarify Tobacco Ban

FAWU notes the risky conditions under which its members have found themselves in and the threat in the tobacco industry following challenges emanating from COVID-19 and the remaining ban on tobacco sales.

FAWU remains firm in its position to respect those decisions made in order to save the lives of people in South Africa including FAWU members in all tobacco companies. We reject replacement of the entire industry which will result in most South Africans being exposed to the same health risks the country is trying to alleviate, e.g. jobs losses in the rest of the tobacco trade and associated value chain. 

FAWU represents the larger part of workers in the tobacco industry, ranging from farms that are providing the raw material to tobacco business and the processing, distribution and the entire value chain.

FAWU reiterates its position that all workers must remain a priority on Health and Safety discussions in workplaces. They must be provided with all necessary PPE, sanitisers, screening and free tests amongst others, including education as to how to best protect themselves in and outside the workplace. This should even include compensation of all workers in the form of COVID-19 allowances as they risk their lives being outside their place of residence.

FAWU has publicly declared a war on illicit trade and dumping of products in South Africa because it impacts negatively on our members’ jobs and causes billions in tax revenue losses. This campaign included illicit trade in tobacco products. The current ban on legal and legitimate cigarettes provides opportunity for the illicit trade of cigarettes to flourish. 

FAWU’s position is that the growth of illicit trading does not only contribute to the negative effect to the economy but most importantly might lead to thousands of job losses which will lead to a rise in the unemployment figure in the country. 

The President of the country has announced easing of travel on domestic air travel on alert level 3 for work purposes and we can therefore expect to see a higher influx of illegal imported cigarette being sold. This is not new at all. It is going to be even worse since legal tobacco products are banned from sale in the domestic market. The country cannot afford the growing number of criminals to replace a lawful industry.  

FAWU does not dispute current discussions regarding health problems associated with cigarettes - in particular those that existed even before COVID-19. It is however important that the reasons that led the government to ban the sale of tobacco are published. This research report should include the relationship between the cigarette health related problems and corona virus but also the extent to which active cases are related to corona virus. We believe this will contribute to spreading valuable knowledge that will assist the country to curb the spread of corona virus.

It is important that research should be done on the relationship between the illicit tobacco trade and its health risks to South Africans since such counterfeit cigarettes are not subjected to certified quality standards for human consumption. This therefore means that illegal cigarettes remains a contributing factor to health-related problems in the country.

Statistics reported by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele indicates that the illicit trading of liquor and tobacco has risen during lockdown. This confirms that people are currently smoking across the country and are probably becoming comfortable with these illegal products. After the ban has been lifted, they might not even switch back to the genuine/ legal product. It is difficult to arrest them since smoking cigarettes are legal and we are finding ourselves in a situation where the illicit trade is booming and is now threatening legitimate businesses with a high probability of  job losses. 

The very same reason that led the government to ban the sale of tobacco has unintended consequences whereby people  are still getting sick because they are now worse off consuming, non-quality passed products during this lock down period. This then defeats the very same purpose why the government banned tobacco initially.  

The growth of the illicit economy, particularly in terms of cigarettes and the adverse impact of billions lost through the unlawful trade should be a quick reminder to the government of FAWU’s outcry about the unlawful trade of money which should have ended up in the fiscus. Government would then be able to direct more funds towards poor communities who sleep without food, conduct important research on the corona virus and implement other necessary government services.

The Commissioner of SARS, Mr. Kieswetter, has also alluded to the fact that the illicit sale of cigarettes has continued despite the ban of these products during the lockdown. This indicates that the country is losing even more billions of rands seeing that illicit traders evade tax. FAWU calls on government to do more to curb the illicit trade of tobacco.

During April 2020, SARS effected several seizures and a list of detentions of various goods including cigarettes. These seizures continue unabated on a daily basis running into billions of Rands that do not flow into the fiscus.

FAWU Calls on the government to:

▪ Issue health reasons related to corona virus from its medical report for relevant stakeholders and the entire nation to be educated on how to handle themselves amid covid-19, with the possibility and intention of relaxing the total ban on tobacco;

▪ To finance an even more stringent multi-discipline (SARS & SAPS) approach to address illegal manufacturing and illicit sale of tobacco; 

▪ To secure all ports of entry in the country to arrest illicit traders who smuggle illegal goods in the country;    

▪ The Department of Employment and Labour to update the nation on the newly recruited inspectors to monitor the compliance on Health & Safety in workplaces; 

▪ Share the number of cases against employers in all permitted sectors of our economy who were found not complying with the regulations including the action taken against them.

We believe that people in South African shall be safer when non-quality tested products are not on sale to the nation. Our peoples’ safety remains a priority during our fight against the spread of corona virus.  We hope the government adheres to our calls as we feel it will contribute positively to the health and safety of our workers and the nation as a whole. We also believe that a comprehensive and intensified approach against illicit trade shall assist the country in its capacity to deal with COVID-19.   

Kindly contact FAWU General Secretary, Mayoyo Mngomezulu General Secretary 082 440 4039. Released by Media Liaison Officer, Dominique Martin -082 498 5631