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&C..31<br />
to work in protest against tha dismissal of two<br />
colleagues* MX "*re dismissed but later reemploy**<br />
(Star, 05*03.62).<br />
Unilever (Boksburg): About 200 writer* et the Lever<br />
Brothers plant struck for o few hours on 25 February.<br />
This wee in protest over the dismissal of some of<br />
their colleagues. The return to work happened In<br />
tereis of a dispute procedure agreed upon by the<br />
CU&A-effiliated Food, Beverage and Allied workers*<br />
Union and Unilever laat rwjvember*<br />
A Wolff General Engineers (taltltu, Pratorle): At<br />
this factory 40 coloured painter* and welders resigned.<br />
They were protesting about the fact that they were to<br />
be replaced by african workers. One of then said,<br />
•If blexka take our poaitions they will work for lastpay*<br />
(Star. 21.01.62).<br />
aoltube (Cwrmleton): About ?60 workers struck<br />
demanding the dlsajissal of a white security guard.<br />
He was dismissed two days later and the atrlkers<br />
returned to work*<br />
KATAL<br />
Beta (trading as KweZulu Shoe Cofrpanv) (Loskop, near<br />
Cetcourt): this factory is owned Jointly by the<br />
(Canadian based) Beta company (holding a teo thirds<br />
share), and the state**. Corporation for Economic<br />
Development (CEO) (one third share).<br />
The F08ATU-affiliated National Union of Textile<br />
Woxkere (MJTw) has been active in organising tha<br />
workers at the factory. At a union meeting a woman<br />
worker nad coaplslned of ill-treatment by a supervisor<br />
at tha firm. She wee subseojuantly dl&misssed and<br />
another 100 woifeers were told that they would also<br />
be fired if they attended union meetings.<br />
On Monday, 22 February, TOO eorkara et the KSC<br />
want on strike in support of tha dismissed worker*<br />
workers ears eeid to be earning 1)14 e week. When the<br />
Industrial Council for the Leather Industry was asked<br />
to coawont on these wages, they aald that there was<br />
nothing they could do as tha factory 'was not in<br />
South Africa*! (Natal Usrcuryt 24,02.62).<br />
The IC spokeaparaon confirmed that the wages<br />
paid by the KSC were far below tha minimum laid<br />
down by tha IC for tha factories in the induetry '<br />
('e^n e flinking worker, responsible for cutting out<br />
the uppers, was paid a minimum of R7dt41 a week,<br />
ectordlng to tha (IC) agreement").<br />
Philip Kotxenberg, ftsnlor llaleon officer<br />
of the CEO, said that the Corporation "did not interfere<br />
in eny of the homeland Industries' eat up by tha<br />
CEO. It was a matter between management end workers.<br />
Ha aald tha primary objective of the corporation<br />
wee to provide work in tha rural areas. It<br />
could not do thia if it had to adhere to tha<br />
minimum wages laid down for metropolitan areas<br />
by tha various Industrial councils,<br />
(Natal mercury. 2a.02.62)<br />
Obed Zume, general secretary of the NUTV, said<br />
that the matter had also been taken up with the<br />
KwaZulu Legislative Assembly and the local chief,<br />
esklng them to exert pressurs.<br />
On fednesday, Za February, workers allegedly<br />
decided to return to work, after an NUTS meeting.<br />
'Community councillors' (?) had earlier asked ths<br />
worksrs (at management's request) to return to work.<br />
The workers refused to listen to this request.<br />
There is e considerable broek in the coverage of<br />
this strike that aa have at our disposal, dealing<br />
with tha next few weeks.<br />
It was reported on 16 March that 700 workers<br />
had been fired 'lest Thursday* (la 11 Merer*}. xn<br />
tha saw report it was said that tha NUTV said<br />
that management would not speak to them or to the<br />
KwaZulu 'labour officer*. The union also said that<br />
there had been no production at the factory since<br />
the dismissals.<br />
Howevsr, another report (Echo, supplement to<br />
the Natal (fitness, 18.03.62) said that ZA Khenyile,<br />
the KwaZulu 'labour officer' had mat with manmgeaint.<br />
Evan on the flimsy newe wa have on thia etrlke<br />
It Is obvious that there are eeverel important<br />
aspmcts to it: It draws attention to tha nature of<br />
foreign investment (some of it) in South Africa,<br />
willing to make the most of the extremely exploitable<br />
conditions that exist in tha bsntustana; it draws<br />
attention to links between foreign companies and the<br />
CEO, under the guise of providing employment<br />
opportunities; it shows up the llmltetions to the<br />
Industrial council system whan it comes to setting<br />
wages; the difficulties of organising workers In<br />
conditions of poverty end unemployment are present;<br />
and it raises the interesting aspect of the<br />
reletlonehlp between the bantustan authorities<br />
(in this cane the pro-Investment Buthelezl region)<br />
end (he workers situated etthln their areas - ehat<br />
was the line that the 'labour officer' took with the<br />
KSC management, and how did tha chief respond to the<br />
reouest that he exert pressure on the company?<br />
Hopefully one of our readers will be able to<br />
fill ua In on these and many other Questions that<br />
arise out of thia strike.<br />
Defy (Jacobs, Ourban): See) IIP21:S2.<br />
The evening shift on Monday, 1 Februory, refused to<br />
start work and by tha next day all 1 200 workers<br />
ware on strike. The issue was, once more, workers*<br />
contributions to and withdrawal from the pension<br />
fund administered through tha Induetrlal Council<br />
for tha steel industry, to which Defy belongs.<br />
The South African Allied Workers Union (SAMU),<br />
representing most of the Defy workare, were taic<br />
to be holding talks with representative* of the<br />
pension fund.Oefy dlrectora said that tha company<br />
had applied to tha Industrial Council to withdraw from<br />
the the Group metal Industries Pension Fund, and to<br />
establish a private schema.<br />
SCIFSA, the employer body in tha industi-y, said<br />
that it was examining the pension lasue * but at the<br />
monmnt contrlbutiona cannot be withdrawn unite* the<br />
employee laavea tha induetry, end then only *ft*r six<br />
montha have expired. This was already e change from<br />
the previous 'frozen' pension sltuetion (frozen until<br />
death or retirement] - e condition the earns *is that<br />
proposed and dropped In tha state's Psntion Bin. As<br />
for tha six month delay, Sam von Caller (SEIFfiA<br />
director) said that *ww have asaumad that for tha first<br />
six months after a worker loaae a Job, ha will be ebie<br />
to cleim from the uViemployment Insurance Fund' [HOM,<br />
10.02.62),<br />
On Thursday, 4 February, after an ultimatum to<br />
return to eorkt all workers eare fired aa 'tha<br />
coapeny could no longer tolerate the eorkere*<br />
continued absence and refusal to work' (R0II, 05.02.82).<br />
Herbert 8ernabus, notional organiser of tha<br />
SAAftU, said that a workers' committee had told<br />
management that they would meat the ultimatum "if<br />
Omfy could settle the pension issue within tha next<br />
two weeks' (Natel Mercury, 09.02.62). The workare<br />
were elso awaiting tha arrival of their lawyer,<br />
Graham Dyson, from Johannesburg.<br />
Defy was reported to be taking on workers from<br />
Monday, 8 February. 8y that day tha atrlka was said<br />
(by director R Collie) to have cost tha firm ft1,4-n.<br />
Fired employe** could reapply for their Jobe but<br />
would lose long-service beneflta.<br />
No further lnfonestion at present.<br />
Herkel Chemical manufacturers (Prospecton, Ourban):<br />
Bee SIP 21:53. 230 workers were fired on 10 March<br />
after being on atrlka (from reports at hand It is<br />
not clear for now long) over pension fund refunds,<br />
wages, and the nee shift system which decreased the<br />
difference'in wee** paid to shift and day workers,<br />
Tha FOBATU-affiliated CWIU and mnagemwnt warm<br />
set to meat on 24 March. Tha International Chemical<br />
and Energy Federation (Geneva-based, with mora than<br />
6HP affiliated workers Internationally) said that<br />
they would support a boycott of Henkel products if<br />
eorkere mere not reinstated, 75 workers had been<br />
taken bee*. Among thoee left out eaa CttlU national<br />
president, Able Cesle (Sunday Tribune, 21.03,62).<br />
(Information seams to Indicate that tha tftrtke<br />
started on Monday, 8 March).<br />
Iscor (Newcastle): Sea *IP 20:4? for coverage of the<br />
strike at thle plant. The Industrial Council for<br />
the Iron, Steal, Engineering and Metallurgical<br />
Industry, could not resolve the dispute batwean Iscor<br />
and the Black Allied workers' Union (BAKU). Tha<br />
meeting of tha IC (in October 1961) discus sad tha<br />
call by tha union for reinstatement with full pay<br />
of tha 76 fired workers. lecor would only take them<br />
beck -on merit* (Star, 15.10.B1). •<br />
McKlnnpn Cftaln (Pietermerltiburg): 90 workers, who<br />
had downed tools on Monday, 15 February, over<br />
alleged non-payaant of promised eage increesee<br />
ware evicted from the company T s premises by police<br />
that same afternoon. The next day they ware told<br />
that they had bean dismissed.<br />
A UAWU organiser had said that managament<br />
inelsted thet wege decisions be negotiated at<br />
Industrial council level. Tha union ems considering<br />
contacting tha USA parent company of VcKlnnon Chain.<br />
Mgndi Umber mill (Port Ournford, north coaat):<br />
All 131 workera (120 of them members of the FOBATlHeffiliated<br />
Paper, flood and Allied workare Union),<br />
were dismissed on Friday, 5 February, after having gone
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