m - DISA

1 Desmond, C. The DJmoerdad People. Johannesburg,
2 Cezankulu Legislative Assembly dtottw, volume 1,
1973:45.
3 Saul, J. "The dialectic of cUu and tribe', in
Race and Clitl, XXt 4, 19?g.
,4 Gazartulu Economic Revise, Benbo, 1976:11.
5 Van warmelo, MJ- A preliminary survey of tha
Bantu tribes of 8outh Africa. Department of
Native Affair* Ethnological publlcetlone, vol 5.
Pretoria, 1936:40.
6 Harries, P. 'Tha anthropQlogiet aa historian and
liberal: HA Junod and th* Tsonge' in Journal of
Southern African Studies, vol 8 no 1, Octobar 1961.
7 Olson. D. 'Opposition politics in Vendo and
Gazankulu*, in Conference on thai Hiatory of
exposition in Boutham Africa, Development Studies
Group, Johanneeburg. WST
6 First Gazankulu Legislative AsfleePly. vol 6,
Gazankulu Appropriation BUI. p 126.
9 ibid, p 123. Speech by «i Baloyi (RltHrtpwene).
10 Gazankulu Legislative **>%mbly- April 1977,
vol 1. p 1507. Literally translated, 'The
novas because it ha* intestines'.
11 Gawfculu Lanlslativa Assembly, fey 1973. vol 5 p 74
12 '66* t awning Govertv&ent Garage, ara tha initials
of tha trucks owned by the South African stata
which affact population rweovals, *06' is often
used a& a tana of dislike to describe tha stata*
INFORMATION
Strikes in the
Metal Industry
OVER tha past Lao months, tha East Rand's metal
lnduatry has ageln become a kay cantra of mortar
struggle, with 24 wort stoppages/disputes,
occurring against a backdrop of tha panding annual
wage talks between tha Staal and Engineering
Industries Fadaratlon of South Africa (SEIFSA) and
tha unions in tha industry. IS of ths stoppages have
involved FOSATU'e registered eetoi and Allied
Barters' Union (aWPU). Last year, too, saw the
East Rand metal industry becoming tha focus of Labour
action with 24 stoppages in eadevnie. Benoni,
Boksburg and Springs, involving a total of 10 772
workers. In thle year's disputes 6 000 UAMU aeebars
hava bean involved and approximately 2 400 vorkars
at fines without unions.
In the 13 stoppages involving WAIU, 33)1 eere
over diamlsssle, 5Ji over wages, 1 strike over a
night ahift dispute, and 1 strike over the disbanding
of a liaison coanlttee end recognition of MAW. This
coaperas with 50)1 of last veer's disputes over
diaelssala, 25£ over wages, end 29)1 in opposition to
managerial staff behaving in an arbitrary fashion.
This analysis will focus mainly on tlAVlTa
involvement in the recent work stoppages and disputes.
The nature of the daeenda in tha disputes and lasuas
related to thaai will be discussed,
Oamende for the relnstetaaent of dismissed
sorters were made in 33% of tha disputes, and UWJ
eaafasrs were successful in two such struggles: at
Lltaaastar Products in eedevllle, 22 wortara were
dismissed last yaar in October* Until tha resolution
of tha issue, tha union helped support the mortars
who did not seek naw aaployaant, welting rether for
the outcome of tha issue. Up to January, aanegeeent
refused to nagotieta with the union despite its
majority representation amongst the firm's 260 workers.
UAWU arranged for an Industrial Court hearing at the
and of January to chellenege the firm's refusel to
negotiate with a representative union. In the
meantime, shop stewards in the factory put continual
pressure on mansgeasnt, stnd workers boycotted
overtiee. Just before the court hearing was due
Llteeester eenageeent capltuletad end rehired ell
22 worters. A recognition agreement with MAVU has
a Laos t bean coaplatad.
A second victory over a disaissals issue ess
eon at Transvaal Malleable Foundries in March,
workers came out on strike for three days in support
of two dismissed colleague*. Initially, eanagement
fired the entire wortforce end aald that It would
selectively re aaploy sorters, Vorter solidarity on
the issue aes ao strong that no one re-applied for
their Jobs and scab labour see not forthcoming,
hence, aenagawent re-eeployed the entire workforce,
even the shop etawerds, and the two woWeeTS initially
dismissed. (A successful strike over dismissals
occurred at TIF late lest year es well).
oage 26
The struggle at Meeker Siddaley Hschinaa over
the dismissal of two workers was fought unsuccessfully,
in that sorters were 'selectively re eauloyed* end
the 30 trade union aeejbers lost their Jobs. However,
the eedevllle organiser does not rwgert thia as e
total failure, for he seys that these 30 workers ere
united end determined to carry on eith the struggle.
He seys that whether dieniseed or not, the feeling
of the wortsrs is not affected - they become
strengthened through their struggles rsther the**
disillusioned.
At present e struggle Is continuing at Flaks^r
(in wedeville) over the ntrenchment of three MAW
members. 200 worters are out on strike end the
outcome is not yet known.
Wage daaends accounted for 53]L of leVJU's disputes
during the present spate of strikes. At present the
minimum wage for the metal industry, em determined
by the June, 1961, wage talks, is R1,13 par hour.
In all the disputes the demand mas for e R1 per 4 hour
increase, or for a R2 per hour minimum wage - e
standard F08ATU target. (This daeand h*s Just been
successfully negotieted et Colgate-Palmolive where
FOSATU'e CftlU has Just negotiated e minimum wage of
Rir95 an hour, and all other other grades will
receive over R2 par hour. In Now amber the minimum
wage will be increased to ft2,04 per hour.
lege increases were demanded at Pressor 8A,
(eadeville). Lasher Tools (Gareiston), McKlnnon
Chaiii (oiatermaritzburgjT Chubb. Hubco. ifcXachnle
Brotherj (wadeville), Hawker Siddaley Transformers
and Automatic Plating {IsandcJ. The Bedevilla
organiser relates these demands to the high cost of
living, snd poor reins In the bentustehs (ahich neve
eroded the migrant worters' supplementary rural
Incomes). None of these demands have been met -
slight increases have been granted: at UcKachnie
Brothers s 12c per hour Increase eea granted, es
well ss a 2c par hour attandance bonus rise, end et
Leuher Tools e 4c per hour increase hag bean granted.
Host firms have refused to negotiate mages until the
Industrial Council wage talks between SEIFSA end the
unions hava been completed.
Tha wage demands must be seen in the context
of the system of wage determination in the metal
lnduatry. The demands ere elso e statwmant about
hoe workers fsel merrs are to be negotiated - et
plant level rether then Industrial council level.
SEIFSA, the tough employer body representing
some a 500 bosses (FCtt, 05.11.61), meets unions
in the metal and engineering Industry each year for
negotiations on the Industrial Council, to determine
«eges and working conditions for the industry's
approximately 440 000 worters (ttml, 03.11.61),
nationwide, unions end employers have an equal number
of representatives on tha Industrial Council. The
bosses, sithough competing far eertets, are prepared
to equalise many factors and Inputs of production,