FAWU on the visit to Wolseley, Ceres, Robbertson, and Bonnievale and De Doorns by its leadership and on actual and threatened victimization of farm workers by farm owners
The leadership of the Food and Allied Workers Union [FAWU], led by its President, Attwell Nazo, and the General Secretary, Katishi Masemola, had a successful visit and interaction with farm workers across the flash-points areas of the Western Cape.
In all these visits and addresses, workers gave the leadership of FAWU warm reception and gave audience to the message the union was communicating in these tough times. The three areas of message were on (1) the need to restrain from violence, especially violence that would lead to loss of life or injury of fellow human being, (2) that FAWU is behind their demands and will support them all the way through thick and thin, and lastly (3) we will engage with employers and government on addressing their part.
It is our assessment that these visits and addresses by the FAWU leadership were successful and we hope that the message of peace that FAWU is preaching will find resonance with workers, farm dwellers and township residents.
In the same breath, we call on the Minister of Safety and Security to instruct police officials to exercise restraint from brutality and to use minimal force when confronted with challenging crowd behavior. In this regard, we call on the arrest of the Wolseley police station commander, who allegedly instructed for the shootings of people with live ammunition in which Mr Daniels was killed, as merely temporarily removing her from her post may send a wrong message that police brutality is not a problem.
Visiting the family of the late Mr Daniels, FAWU leaders could not believe the squalor conditions they leave under as it is the case with virtually all workers, including those from farms, in those areas.
We call on trade unions and civil society organizations, government and farm owners associations to meet urgently and negotiate an agreement on increased wage rates above the current minimums and improved working conditions, especially the introduction of compulsory employer & employee-based contribution, and the need for restoration for dignified living conditions.
Meanwhile, we call on all those farmers who have already victimized workers with letters of suspension and evictions to reverse such measures and to those intending going this route to desist doing so as we make attempts in finding lasting solutions to specific issues and overall resolution of the current environment.
Statement issued by Katishi Masemola, FAWU General Secretary, November 18 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
