Isisebenzi December 1972 (English Translation)

ISISEBENZI

COVER PAGE IS STAMPED (NATAL SOCIETY 1 DEC 1972 COPYRIGHT)

 LOCO ( WORKERS HAND HOLDING A CHAIN)

EDITORS NOTES:

We have a lot of issues to cover in this publication.  All could be summed up into: only one main issue; it is essential that workers associated under the workers committee or the Trade Unions.   Workers should observe Bosses are suspicious of workers organizations.  They know that will benefits workers, if they are organized.

For example, few years ago at Docks there was a number of shipping companies which use to pay for Onyathi[1] It was at the Bosses mercy to keep appropriate workers, who were able to do work quick.   According to bosses they were prepared to pay more for workers who can perform very well.  This lead companies to compete on paying better wages.   Bosses never liked this wage competition.    As they noticed that workers were not organized they met as Bosses and established a new company.   This new company bought all employment opportunities and sold a labour to shipping companies for a cheaper wage.  What was the aim behind this?  It meant that they were able to decide on wage levels.  All workers were supposed to be recruited and be paid by this labour broker.   Upon our investigating the ownership of this Company, we found that all directors for Durban Stevedoring Labour Supply Company are directors of big shipping firms.

 As we have observed with the Clothing Industry, even the Police have taken the Bosses side.  Therefore workers need to take care on their own not to be cowards.  There are things workers can do, which are essential for workers to do.  The elephant easy killed by a team of hunters.  `I we are united as workers we can collaborate to fight for better working conditions.