labour | Terry Bell Writes

Browsing All posts tagged under »labour«

The real message of International Women’s Day

March 6, 2016

Tuesday, March 8, is International Women’s Day (IWD). It comes at a time of ongoing global economic crisis and when we, in South Africa, face further massive job losses, turmoil on the university campuses and in the labour movement. Perhaps, as never before, has the real message of the founders of IWD been more pertinent.

No joy for SA labour in 2016 Budget

February 28, 2016

South Africa's 2016 Budget has come and gone — and has done little or nothing to assuage the anger felt in many sections of the embattled trade union movement. If anything, it has given added impetus to a move by those unions set to convene a “workers’ summit” to seek new directions both for the labour movement and the country.

A Valentine message for labour

February 16, 2016

Perhaps it was appropriate that Sunday was Valentine’s Day. It provided some respite from political shenanigans of the past week and the parlous state of the real economy. But the history of the day provides a glimpse of the reality of technological progress and its effect on jobs.

A wake-up call for SA trade unions

February 8, 2016

South Africa is heading into a particularly rough year economically. For those on minimum wages or fixed incomes, let alone the army of the unemployed, this is a frightening prospect.

Dealing with the “4th Industrial Revolution”

January 30, 2016

The so-called "Fourth Industrial Revolution" has the potential to free humanity from drudgery and poverty, but only if it is under true democratic control and serves the interests of humanity as a whole. So it is not a matter of demanding changes in mere policy, but in the political system itself.

Forward to a Cold War future?

January 24, 2016

In the face of the ongoing global economic crisis, with massive unemployment and a wage and welfare gap continuing to grow, the remnants of communist parties around the world see a chance of again becoming major, even leading, political forces. And the prime vehicle toward this goal is the trade union movement.

A new year — and a new world ahead

January 10, 2016

We are on the cusp of a time when all work could be done by machine. Yet there is little sign of any move to design or promote a system that can cope; that could ensure that the technological advances made can be utilised for the benefit of humanity as a whole. Instead, there is a grasping at myths of the past.

The sex work debate

September 4, 2015

Is commercialised sex a crime? Or should only those who sell their services be free of criminal prosecution while those who patronise them or who benefit in any way financially, remain guilty of a crime? Alternatively, should commercial sex be regarded as work, be decriminalised, and be subject to broadly the same labour legislation as any other legitimate means of earning a living.?