Terry Bell Writes

Browsing All Posts published in »2011«

The volatile mix behind the strike wave

July 24, 2011

(First published 15 July 2011) Nobody should have been surprised at the current strike wave or the anger manifested. In April this column noted that “levels of disgruntlement — the “gatvol factor” — are everywhere in evidence throughout the labour movement, both in terms of politics and economics. Awareness of widespread corruption, of increasing joblessness […]

Technology and the race to the bottom

July 24, 2011

The labour movement is under concerted attack, globally, with capital now trying to play the role of defenders of the poor and unemployed. At least, thanks to modern communications, the facts will out and the real arguments can be aired, perhaps providing solutions to this crisis-ridden system.

The role of unions — and threats they face

July 10, 2011

The labour movement has always professed — and has the potential — to be the bulwark against authoritarianism, a standard bearer of such concepts as liberty and social justice. Unfortunately, there are many instances where these goals have been subverted, where governments, political parties and organised crime, sometimes as overlapping entities, have dominated, corrupting or badly weakening organised labour.

Seeking union relevance in a world in turmoil

June 30, 2011

With the global economy in turmoil, the labour movement everywhere is having to adapt to changed — and changing — circumstances while avoiding the bribes, blandishments and bullying of governments, political parties and business. It could be a question of: adapt, fragment or fade away to irrelevance.

The ‘Fat Cat’ charter of limited liability

June 17, 2011

Miners have died and thousands of dependents — wives, mothers, children and others —are suffering, many cold and hungry in the Highveld winter. They are the casualties of the ambitions of Aurora Empowerment Systems, the company that took control of the Grootvlei and Orkney mines from the bankrupt Pamodzi Gold in 2009. The promises of […]

The secrets we do not need

June 7, 2011

Notes for a discussion on secrets held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in February, 2011 in which I argued against the notion of state secrets.

ANC faces a turbulent post-election period

May 29, 2011

The government as employer, together with the governing ANC, could be sailing into some turbulent post-election waters. A series of meetings, some of which started this week, will determine quite how turbulent, but the prospects for smooth sailing look remote. On May 26 representatives of the 14 unions in the public service were in Cape […]

Wal-Mart and the nature of the system

May 25, 2011

We live in a world system known as capitalism. About that there seems to be no disagreement. But what this means seems to create considerable confusion. And the rows surrounding the intended incursion into South Africa by Wal-Mart illustrate this clearly. Amid all the arguments and the blowing of vuvuzelas, only a few trade union […]