13.08.01

WORKERS UNITE IN ACTION - IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

We salute the workers who came out on strike in the auto strike. Indeed it was a brave decision, clearly not an easy one in today's harsh times! We also salute the Mine Workers Union -Solidarity [ex-SAWU] for their decision to work to rule to put pressure on the motor bosses!

What are the bosses doing?

The bosses are attacking workers gains by insisting on a 3-year agreement where workers wage increases will be reduced to 3% or less in the second and third years! VW's profit doubled last year but they do not want to even give a 15% increase. If an agreement is signed then all workers will suffer. NOW is the time to do something! After the strike will be too late!

On the Ocgawu leaders:

In a fight you can only be on one of 2 sides, with the workers or with the bosses. To openly oppose the strike is to expose all motor sector workers nationally [whether they are on strike or not] to poverty conditions forever! In a strike there are always opportunities to raise new demands. NOW is the right time to raise the demand for the reinstatement of the 1386 VWSA dismissed workers. The courts have shown they are in the pockets of the bosses!! Why do the Ocgawu leaders say 8% is ok for now and 3 % for the next 2 years is ok? What kind of deal have they struck for their own personal reasons? These leaders condemned the divisive actions of the Numsa leaders last year. Here, the Ocgawu leaders are not only proposing to maintain the split among the workers, they are placing a permanent obstacle in the way of real workers unity in action..Personal agendas and individual enrichment is the prime motive behind the deal the Ocgawu leaders have struck behind the backs of their own members! They are no different from the Numsa leaders when they sold out the workers last year. What plans do the Ocgawu leaders have to fight for reinstatement of the 1386- Nothing! For them, it is better to fold arms while the dismissed workers and their families are dying! Workers - depend on your own strength and unity! What is required is a joint strike committee to spearhead workers' unity in the strike and to lay the basis for workers' unity in the future. All workers need to draw the lessons from how only the bosses benefit when workers are divided. Opposing the strike is a betrayal to the entire working class!

On the Numsa leaders:

The Numsa leaders were never serious about a strike. If they were, they would have long ago have met with MWU and Ocgawu and planned a joint strategy, despite their differences. They would long ago have planned solidarity strikes in allied and surrounding companies. They sent Vavi and Nondwangu all over the country except Uitenhage. WHY? Clearly, they were never interested in going out in the strike!It was only the pressure of the workers from the base that forced the strike.

a) We must not confuse the actions of the Numsa LEADERS with the actions of the Numsa MEMBERS!
b) It was the VW BOSSES that dismissed the workers last year, NOT the Numsa MEMBERS! The Numsa LEADERS were the ones who struck a deal with the bosses.

THE WAY FORWARD

Now is the time to hit at both the VW bosses and the Numsa leaders. The only way is to join and strengthen the strike!! By workers striking, the VW bosses lose profit. By building a strong and united strike makes it very difficult for the Numsa leaders to sell out! The dismissed workers and their families should go to the gates of VW to protest on a daily basis!

WORKERS: JOIN THE STRIKE! SEND YOUR REPS TO THE STRIKE COMMITTEE! DEMAND VAVI AND NONDWANGU TO COME AND ADDRESS THE STRIKERS! DEMAND THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE 1386 VWSA DISMISSED WORKERS!

A WORKING CLASS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!

Issued by Workers International Vanguard League, ph/fax 021 4476777 email wivl@sn.apc.org