SACP statement on workers struggles at Impala Mines and Gautrain buses
The SACP is deeply offended by the actions of the employers both at Gautrain buses and at the Impala mines where workers are being treated like cheap commodities that can be dismissed willy-nilly by the greedy capitalists. We find this newly found arrogance of the bosses disgusting and a flagrant disregard of the laws of our country in some instances. The SACP expresses its fully solidarity with these legitimate struggles of the workers.
The SACP strongly condemns manouvres by the Impala bosses in actively colluding to undermine a duly recognised union and seek to sow divisions within the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The union bashing tactics adopted at the mine, and the threat of dismissal of about 17 000 workers, are reminiscent of apartheid era tactics to bash unions and fuel tribal wars especially in the mines. The SACP will work with the NUM in providing the requisite support and political clarity to the workers to properly comprehend the manoeuvres of the bosses.
The situation of the workers at Gautrain buses is even more outrageous. The threat of mass dismissals of workers who are raising legitimate issues about their working conditions is nothing but a brazen assault on workers' rights and their dignity. It is our considered view that the employer in this case is taking advantage of the fact that the workers are not unionised. The SACP will work with its ally COSATU to immediately pay attention to the unionisation of these workers.
The SACP calls upon the bosses in both instances to genuinely engage with the workers and their representatives so that an urgent solution is found to these disputes. The SACP is deeply concerned that defeat of the workers in these instances may open floodgates in employer arrogance and determination to roll back workers rights gained over decades of struggles and sacrifices. This in itself constitutes a grave threat to the strength, growth and unity of the progressive labour movement in our country.
What we find even more disturbing is the silence of the BEE partners both at Gautrain buses and at Impala. Surely it cannot be that BEE is about the enrichment of a few at the expense of the working class and its rights and job security. The SACP has argued for quite a considerable period of time now that whilst it is indeed true that capital in our country remains predominantly white, black capital does not behave any differently. Black or white, capital seeks enrichment from the blood of workers and must therefore be strongly defended irrespective of the colour of the owners.
It is for this reason that, amongst others, the SACP 2012 annual programme of action focuses on the issue of building a solidarity economy so that we can move away from this 'dog eat dog' mentality of our country. It is also clear to us that the more capitalism sinks into a crisis the greedier and ruthless it becomes, and seeks to offload the burden of its own crisis onto the working class.
Statement issued by the SACP, February 5 2012
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