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The National Education Health & Allied Workers Union condemns the union bashing that has been perpetrated by the Ubuntu Education Fund on NEHAWU members in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, in Port Elizabeth.

The Fund has for some time been on a relentless campaign to purge workers who are affiliated to NEHAWU. Currently more than 19 NEHAWU members are suspended by the Fund. All South African’s have a right to join and form a trade union as enshrined in our constitution and the Labour Relations act. These are rights that must be protected and promoted at all material times.

It is very alarming that in this day in age there is still employers who are hell-bent on seeing the obliteration of trade unions. The tactics that have been meted on our members are disgusting to say the least. As NEHAWU we refuse to stand idle while our members are persecuted for standing up for their rights and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of such tactics to come forward.

We will tirelessly work extra hard in order to highlight their underhand tactics and intimidation directed at workers. Such dirty tactics can never go unchallenged and will be confronted head on. To this end we will be marching to the Fund tomorrow in Port Elizabeth to register our frustrations with their management.

The march is organised by NEHAWU, the South African Communist Party [SACP], the Young Communist League of South Africa [YCLSA], civil society and local community members. The march will make the following demands:

• We demand immediate withdrawal of all suspensions of NEHAWU members and engage NEHAWU on a lasting solution.
• We appeal to the management of Ubuntu Education Fund to abide by the constitution to allow workers of UBUNTU to join trade union furthermore to allow NEHAWU to organise workers without intimidation.
• Management must desist the unwarranted attack on Shop stewards. It is our conviction that an attack on the leadership of the union is an attack on the union itself.
• South Africa as a country has a painful history of institutionalised racism. We edge the management of UBUNTU to deal with immediate effect with all acts of racism that is manifesting itself in the institution.
• Management must insource all positions and do away with consultants.

We hope that our demands will receive the attentions it deserves and be treated with a sense of urgency. The march will begin 10am and will start at the Zwide Rent Office to the Ubuntu Education Fund in Zwide Township in Port Elizabeth.

Issued by NEHAWU