NUM Biennial report
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 1989
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149589 , vital:38866
- Description: Since the Fifth National Congress in 1987 where our union adopted the Freedom Charter and charted a clear political direction for the NUM, many gallant battles have been waged by the mineworkers on many fronts. 1987 was the year in which our union launched its campaign to effect control of miners working lives. It was a year when mineworkers took control indeed in keeping with the Fifth Congress Slogan -"1987 THE YEAR MINEWORKERS TAKE CONTROL", as many comrades began to take over the hostels, particularly in the Witbank Region which resulted in families moving into the hostels for a period of time. Although the process remained uneven, the initiative was an important indicator of the willingness of the workers to take action and implement resolutions adopted by our union. In spite of the existence of the State of Emergency, the dedication, commitment, spirit and enthusiasm of mineworkers remained high. 1987 was also the year in which the NUM made its mark on the mining industry with the historic Great Miners Strike. This action, involving over 340 000 workers was the biggest of its kind in South African Labour History, and also the biggest action by workers of its kind on the African continent. We challenged some of the fundamental policies of the mining industry, in particular, the concept of poverty wages which has become one of the major battle grounds for our union. Despite mass dismissals of 50 000 workers, our union has remained and continues to mobilise and organise mineworkers against the oppressive and exploitative conditions. 1987 will certainly go down in history as the year of mass action by mineworkers throughout South Africa. It is well known that the strike did affect our organisation in many areas. Actions by management to roll back the gains of our union continued unabated after the strike right through until now.
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- Date Issued: 1989
NUM Biennial report - 1991 Seventh national congress
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149605 , vital:38868
- Description: Over two years have passed since our last Congress and many developments have taken place in our industry and the country. Most significant of these developments was the release of our Honorory Life President Comrade Nelson Mandela and the other political prisoners together with the unbanning of the the African National Congress and other political parties. These developments are the fruits of our struggle, a struggle so many have sacrificed so much for. These developments are the culmination of our victory over the evil system of apartheid. These developments came about as a result of the sustained assault against the edifice of apartheid mounted by our people and the international community. It is true that the political and social landscape in the country has changed and that new challenges await mineworkers, our union and all the patriotic forces in the struggle to transform our country into a genuine democracy and a prosperous country. The edifice of Aparthied has been under constant siege forcing the government to sytematically dismantle discriminatory legislation. Whilst we have to fully acknowledge that this process is taking place, we will be naive to believe that the institutions, legacy and culture that was fostered over decades will vanish with the removal of apartheid laws. We need to be constantly vigilant against the introduction of neo-apartheid in the place of apartheid. It requires much more than the removal of laws to address the historical inequities of Apartheid and racism that remains deep in the fabric of our social, economic and political life. Through all the developments we are proud to state that mineworkers have not only made their contribution in bringing about the demise of the apartheid system but have made their mark as one of the most militant sectors of the struggling masses. Together with thousands of others we have been able to shift the balance of power near to our goal of a non racial democracy. Our assessment of these developments and what the implications are for the future will be assessed in this report to Congress. As these historic developments have been taking place our industry has been experiencing severe problems with increased job losses and a low gold price. The fight for job security and the restructuring of the mining industry requires immediate attention. Our endeavours over the last two years will be evaluated and some suggestions of a future strategy will be outlined for consideration. Progess and development is often accompanied with setbacks and diversions. It is important that we acknowleges these so that our union can strenghten where it is weak and consolidate where it must. This biennial report examines the socio-economic and socio-political developments in the country and the industry since our last Congress, and assesses the achievements and future possibilities and challenges for the union.
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- Date Issued: 1991
NUM Education strategic plan
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 2002-2005
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113988 , vital:33867
- Description: The Education Department believes it is important that when assembling a strategic education plan for the next three years, a thorough discussion needs to take place within the Union as a whole about the context that we find ourselves in, and the challenges, which emerge, for our members. What follows are the observations of the Education Department informed by the Unions Ten Year plan and other policy engagements. It is not an exhaustive survey that is offered here, but what are considered key points.
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- Date Issued: 2002-2005
NUM Education strategic plan
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/106445 , vital:32652
- Description: First we need to ask the obvious question, what is the purpose of a trade union education strategic plan? The answer is as follows,To enable the union to locate its educational concerns and plan its responses with due regard to available resources, and capacity. To ensure that there is a reference point for a thorough on-going assessment of progress. To help articulate a vision for the unions education which inspires and motivates all those concerned. This is critical to the long-term success of our union. Assessing and adopting strategic options requires a vision to help us locate and then analyse both external and internal conditions. It helps us to formulate manageable and realistic strategies to achieve agreed objectives. It helps us to implement our plans with a clear appreciation of our true capacity and to measure outcomes accurately
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
NUM Memorandum - State policy on the crisis in the Gold mining industry
- Authors: NUM
- Date: June 1992
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149541 , vital:38862
- Description: The National Union of Mineworkers has asked for a meeting with the Minister to highlight the severe social and economic effects that are caused by the low rand gold price and the consequent rationalisation measures that are being implemented by the gold mines. The severity of the crisis is well illustrated by the case of the Harmony Gold Mine in the Orange Free State. This is the largest of the so-called "marginal" gold mines and last week it retrenched over 6 000 workers. The gold mines have cut back over 130 000 jobs over the last five years. The job cuts have speeded up again in 1992 as the gold price has continued at low levels. The NUM expressed its deep concern at this contraction in the gold industry most strongly at the Summit on the Future of the Mining Industry in June 1992. This meeting was attended by mining houses, the trade unions and several state departments. The NUM made a plea for a national plan and a national policy to regulate and manage the process of down-scaling. Despite the formation of a Summit Steering Committee to consider this and other proposals, and a whole series of working-group meetings involving all parties, nothing practical has come out of the process to address the issue of down-scaling.
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- Date Issued: June 1992
NUM press cutting service
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 1987
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/168592 , vital:41628
- Description: The African National Congress, 75 years old tomorrow, is no longer being written off in South Africa as “the world’s least successful terrorist organisation.” The black nationalist movement, which turned to violence after it was banned in 1960, is nowhere near a classic guerilla' victory in its fight for majority rule. But after three years of unprecedented black revolt in South Africa's townships, it has won recognition from the Government as its main enemy and a major security threat. Political analysts say this has in turn helped the outlawed ANC boost its overt political support in the townships — an increasingly important goal since it accepted how South African conditions impede conventional guerilla warfare. South African Government sources used to pour scorn on the ANC’s guerilla operations and it justified crackdowns on dissent by speaking in general terms of an international, communist-backed' "total onslaught" against its rule.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1987
Secretariate report - Mobilise and invest for a sustainable cadre development
- Authors: NUM
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149517 , vital:38860
- Description: Three years ago this Province under the banner of the Western Cape National Union of Mineworkers gathered in this constitutional structure, the Regional conference under the slogan “Develop Leadership to Advance Socialism”. That conference then declared and adopted a comprehensive programme of action to take forward that Regional conference declaration. That the regional committee should and within the broad framework of the declaration ensure that the NUM in a regional context fight for better working conditions of our members. That the RC develops concrete programmes for the broader structures and membership to understand and ultimately be implemented at those levels. This conference has to deal with the assessment of the progress made during this period under review. Within the context of contestation forward mobility is ensured that seeks to help build the working class leadership which is ultimately or essentially political leadership. Worker control is one of the key founding principles of our union which will be better understood and implemented when we are to begin to find synergy between the worker leadership and the intellectual capacity within our organisation. This report will deal with the different chapters as identified. This report will also deal with our participation in COSATU structures as well as lack of cohesiveness between branch leaders and general membership and also the possible fear to engage. We will also try and attempt to discuss the lack of information flow from our structures to the broader membership. As we engage this report, let us try to use our organisational tools to resolve the problems facing our region and in particular the branches and as a result find suitable solutions to build and strengthen the organisation.
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- Date Issued: 2002
The need for state assistance to the Gold Mining Industry
- Authors: NUM
- Date: Jun 1992
- Subjects: NUM
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/112492 , vital:33600
- Description: The NUM’s objectives for the mining industry are simple and straightforward. They include the following: The elimination of racism in the mining industry, The payment of fair wages to all mineworkers, The establishment of decent living conditions for workers and an end to the evils of the migrant labour system, Improved health and safety and other working conditions, Proper, broad-based training for mineworkers, Care for workers downscaling of mining and the development of an economically viable mining sector that is run in a humane and participatory manner. It is plain under the system, both of which are profoundly oppressive a That is why the NUM has always taken a strong political stance. Our belief is that there needs to be a thorough-going RESTRUCTURING and re-organisation of the mining sector before the goals of our union can be met. The burning issue that threatens progress towards our objectives, however, is the economic crisis in the gold industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Jun 1992