COSATU and the Impala strike: a correction

The Congress of South African Trade Unions wishes to correct an inaccurate report on both SABC and ETV of a statement made by General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, about the strike at Impala Platinum Mine.

They implied that he backed the strike, when in fact he made it clear that while COSATU supports the legitimate demands of the workers on strike and will pursue these demands, it has called on workers to return to work. Their strike is not protected and it would be irresponsible to call on them to intensify an illegal strike.

COSATU notes that ETV has already corrected the story and calls on the SABC to do the same.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, February 21 2012

COSATU North West corrects SABC and ETV reports

The Congress of South African Trade Unions wants to correct the statement made by SABC and ETV that COSATU will intensify the strike by workers at Impala Platinum Mines.

The COSATU General Secretary was very clear in three languages - English, Xhosa and Setswana - that while COSATU supports the workers' demands and that the federation and NUM will take up all issues raised by workers, he continuously in his address requested workers to go back to work and warned that the action they took as workers was unprotected and illegal.

He urged workers to return back to their work as the federation is taking up their demands including the conditions of re-employment versus re-instatement.

COSATU notes that ETV has already corrected the story and calls on the SABC to do the same as soon as possible.

COSATU demands that all workers must be reinstated with their previous conditions of service.

Once again the federation calls all workers to return to their work and allow the federation and NUM to deal with their demands presented to the General Secretary.

At no stage did workers speak about the coming NUM national congress in May 2012, as it was reported in the Radio News last night.

Statement issued by COSATU North West Provincial Secretary Solly Nani Phetoe, February 22 2012

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