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Communication Workers Union (CWU) will march to Luthuli House to hand deliver its memorandum to the African National Congress’ National Office Bearers. The Union arrived at this painful decision to march against itself after a series of engagements with the Parastatals; the State and the African National Congress, without any success over a period of two years. The march comes after the backdrop of an unstoppable tsunami of job losses in Telkom, led by Sipho Maseko in that; in the past 2 years, over 46% of job cuts has been recorded from a 23000 workforce to just over 12500 worforce (today) and counting. The ultimate aim is to reduce the number of workforce to between 6000-8000. This will set a record of job cuts from an original 67000 workforce, since the dawn of democracy. All of this happens despite the 2015 State of the National Address (SONA) announcement that Telkom would lead SA’s broadband rollout as a state agency, which we believe was an opportunity to create more sustainable and quality jobs. It is important to note that this decision has left the Broadband Infraco’s (another SOE) future hanging in uncertainty, and so is the future of over 200 workers employed in that Parastate. Therefore; we calling for the immediate stopping of the job shedding in Telkom and the removal of both the CEO and the Board Chairperson in Telkom.

As Communication Workers Union, we are displeased by the political unwillingness for the revival and recapitalization of the South African Post Office (SAPO). The challenges in SAPO need a political solution for a swift state intervention. The dire situation in SAPO has left many workers employed as casual workers for 22 years, same age as our democracy. It also has left workers salary increases and backpay of 2014/15 not being realized, agreements in favour of workers not implemented; and the company’s infrastructure collapsing. Our government departments failure to use SAPO and Post Bank in favour of the private sector and foreign owned institutions, is a clear indication of political unwillingness. The blunt arrogance of outsourcing basic government services like population registering, issuing of Identity Documents, Passports, SASSA grants and related services to white monopoly capital instead of using SAPO is yet another

element of state capture. Our members can no longer be subjected to destitute whilst working for the SOE. Their patience has been tested to the limits. Our members can no longer accept a day longer without a decent living wage; they can no longer accept a day longer as casual workers; they find it impossible to work in squalors and they demand a caring government that will take their plea to heart. Our members are calling for the state to use its own institution for purposes that it is mandated for, as opposed to the private sector.
We believe that workers do not eat slogans and will never surrender their class interest based on their loyalty of the government of the day.

We therefore calling for all our progressive left motive forces to join CWU and COSATU march to Luthuli House tomorrow (14th April 2016). The gathering starts at 09:00a.m at Mary Fritzgerald Square.

Issued by Communication Workers Union