OPSEU in South Africa and Malawi: March 10, 2008

Today was just like any other day at home in Canada! Just as we were off to meetings at a place called “Community House” where many unions and progressive organizations have their offices, we got a call from the National Union of Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) in the Western Cape.

President Smokey Thomas next to murals inside Community House,
Cape Town

Another mural of a worker with a sign, “Long Live COSATU”
(Congress of South African Trade Unions )

“Sorry, Comrades (the term used by unionists in South Africa instead of Brothers and Sisters), we cannot meet today – we are off to the picket line for the first day of a strike!” I immediately asked if we could join them there and the response was emphatic –“We would love it!”

NEHAWU strikers welcome us to their picket line

President Smokey Thomas brings a message of solidarity from OPSEU

The strikers are a group of 100 workers at a private health care administrative scheme - Medscheme. They are members of NEHAWU who have been in negotiations since October 2007. Counsellors, nurses and clerical staff, they are standing strong against this employer. Their slogan? An Injury to One is an Injury to All! Their demands? They want the employer to stop union bashing and recognize their representatives and they refuse to participate in the performance based pay system the employer is attempting to introduce. They also want:

• an average of 15% wage increases (the lowest paid workers get the equivalent of only $1000 per month)
• the employer to accelerate the implementation of employment equity
• access to training in accredited institutions
• an increase in their sick leave, study leave and annual leave days
• housing and medical aid subsidies for workers

It’s amazing how similar these demands are to workers anywhere in the world. I brought greetings from our union and wished them all the best in their struggle. I also promised them a concrete form of international solidarity (watch the website for details of how you can harass their employer by phone from Canada!)