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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing All posts tagged under »trade unions«
Unions challenge govt — and the opposition
The mass strike in South Africa on Wednesday, March 9, was only nominally about e-tolling on public roads and the problem of labour brokers. It was, in fact, a challenge to both the government and the parliamentary opposition who both support a system that allows for road tolls and creates an environment in which unscrupulous labour brokers can thrive.
Confusing roots of the upheaval at Implats
February 19, 2012
It was money, historic distrust, poor communication by and between different parties and the intervention of a small criminal element that provided the volatile mix that exploded into violence at the Impala Platinum (Implats) Rustenberg operations in South Africa,leaving one miner dead and more than ten injured.
Jobs front cynicism as the debates continue
February 10, 2012
The South African government is optimistically punting figures from the latest Labour Force Survey. The unions take a more cautious view and a closer look at the statistics reveals a still strongly "ticking time bomb" of mass unemployment.
A chance to argue for real union principles
February 3, 2012
The state sponsored Chinese and North Korean unions will be part of the WFTU gathering in Johannesburg, hosted by four Cosatu-affiliated unions. Will this be a move to Soviet-style "conveyor belt unionism" or an opportunity to promote change and real labour principles?
Bread & Roses: an ongoing struggle
January 21, 2012
This January 2012 wasnot just the centenary of South Africa's governing ANC. It was also the centenary of the bread and roses strike in the USA, a strike that provides many lessons for today and provides a good example frm which to judge how far we have come — and hw much further we need to go.
SA govt decisions sow union discord
December 9, 2011
The South African government’s latest moves directed, ostensibly, at combating corruption and maladministration have sown considerable confusion, distrust and suspicion in sections of the trade union movement.
Humbug, festivities and financial education
December 2, 2011
Given te dehpth of indebtedness into which many working class people seem certain to be be cast in the new year, it is tempting to emulate Dickers' Scrooge and say, "Bah! Humbug" about the looming season of supposed togetherness and happiness. But then there are developments that that are certainly not humbug and that illustrate something better.
Xmas bells ring in profit — and deeper debt
November 26, 2011
The measures taken to to get the tills of the towns of South Africa ringing for a profitable Xmas season, are similar to those that led, via the sub-prime mortgage debacle in the United States, to the current and ongoing global crisis. This is based on short-term thinking and the extension of unsustainable credit.
Terry Bell Writes 
March 9, 2012
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