Workers News - National Women's committe launched

My regards to all SAMWU comrades and wishing all a Happy New Year! I hope this message will encourage women in all structures of SAMWU. President Mashishi, in the previous issue, wrote about the "Framework for Municipal Service Partnerships." Inside you will find a guideline as to how you can use this agreement in your municipality to stop privatisation. Comrades, let us take up the challenge of implementing the framework agreement with the vigour, attention, and dedication it deserves. The Sectoral Forum team will continue to stop any negative consequences from this agreement and make sure privatisation is only a last resort. Comrades must help the team by reporting any attempt to privatise to the Head Office immediately so that disputes can be lodged quickly. Comrade Women, we are entering the new millennium with a new National Women's Committee. This structure has been formed through womens' demands to our Union. There is no leader besides yourself and no one can walk in front of a woman, a mother and a child bearer. We know all the pains, the joys and the inner abilities we have as leaders. We lead on a daily basis, in our homes, with our children, and in our conversations. Never think that you are not a leader! Women should show their wisdom like our mothers have shown. South African women are considered very strong. We should not shy away from our responsibilities as leaders. Let's voice our opinions and always support one another. Shopsteward training is very important this year. The Education Department has developed excellent programmes and I hope everyone will get the best benefit from them. Shopstewards should keep themselves up to date of SAMWU policies and documents. These can all be found at your nearest branch office. No-one can defend a union member better than yourself with the knowledge of SAMWU Policies and Defence methods. Know your Union! Read and share with other comrades what you have learnt! We have heard Deputy President Mbeki announcing Zero Tolerance for corruption. Cdes, this is an issue we should never leave lying low. We should report all irregular matters that occur in our workplace and within SAMWU. We should not tolerate comrades that are in the struggle for enrichment rather than political advancement of the workers they serve. Members should be served with no extra gains to officials or shopstewards. Human Rights Day is coming and we must remember comrades whose suffering we've heard about in our TRC hearings and those in the rest of the world. Suppression of Women's Rights in other countries should be high on our "NO" lists. Comrades, many Bills have been passed in 1998 and some of those affect us as workers in local government. There will be education programs around the Employment Equity Act, and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Contact your branch office for more details. In the next issue we look at the Skills Development Bill. A political education programme starts at the end of March. It will be one evening per month in urban areas and one day every two months in the rural areas. Comrades, especially women, I urge you to participate. The first program will be about the Elections Manifesto. We want to see all of you on lists at the next election. Comrades, finally, thanks to those of you who have been helping with voter education and registration. Let us go out and move other comrades to register and vote for our Party. We cannot be ruled by confused people anymore.