Staffrider Vol.6 No.2 1985 - DISA

or thirteenth of July we were all dismissed and then one daylater selectively re-employed. A list of 88 were not takenback. The management said we were fighting, carrying barsand striking. But stoppages were caused by managementrefusing to negotiate with workers. The sacked workersformed a steering committee at Morena. We met managementwho said the 88 would be re-employed group by group. Bythe following day management started hiring colouredworkers. Those members left in the factory started to leaveto join us at Morena; it was obvious they would have to teachthe job to the coloureds — and then be fired themselves. Thecompany sent a security guard to Morena to see what washappening and to complain that workers were being beatenand told not to work. This was not true.WE TOOK THE CASE TO THE INDUSTRIAL COURTIt took a long time to get our case to the Industrial Courtdue to misunderstanding with the MAWU organisers. Thefirst lawyer we saw believed the company's side of this story.The general secretary at the time, Mr Sebabi, said we had aweak case and it would cost too much. In the end we usedour own pension contributions to pay a deposit for a lawyerto take the case. In the early days we went to the East RandAdministration Board. They said they would not register anynew workers for LiteMaster. At the Manpower Departmentthey sent us next door — but they would not help us. On2 May 1984 our case was heard before the Industrial Council,but there was deadlock and it was referred to the IndustrialCourt. We are still waiting for the case. Of the original 88dismissed and the 40 who supported them, 100 to 130 stillmeet three times a week. We meet to push the case and toteach the merits of unity. Someone from Wits came to teachabout union activity.WAITING FOR JUSTICEThere have been several reporters come here and a womanfrom Germany enquired about our case. LiteMaster's headquartersare in Germany. That was in August or September1983, and we haven't heard anything since then.It has been very difficult without work. We had to dependon neighbours and friends. We wrote letters for assistance butthere has been little outside support. Now many of themembers are behind with rent and have been served witheviction notices.In LiteMaster there are still some union members left butwe hear rumours that most have had to leave the union. Thestop orders come to only R17 or R19 a month and subs areR1.20 each.YOUNG MALE WORKER: I blame the government which isin favour of the white population. We are suffering becauseof the colour of our skin. No white suffers. The unions werecreated to solve this problem.FEMALE WORKER: I am still prepared to go forward. Iam not prepared to work for a company which has no unionin it.MALE MIGRANT WORKER: In the homelands you find aman is given a place which is full of trees and this is supposedto be the field he is to cultivate. First it has to be cleared andat the first harvest you may only get 100 bags. But next timeyou will try to get more. In other words I am still preparedto go forward with the struggle.All of us are prepared to go forward with the struggle.Phambili NgnoForwardAndries W. Oliphant Farouk StemmetT. he Invisible MenThe men who left Ulundi, Umtata, SalisburyAnd Lorenzo MarquesFor the city of goldWhat happened to them?They leftFirst on foot,Then on horseback.Later on wagons.Now they leave on railway busesAnd overcrowded third-class trains.Does gold make man invisible?Who built the skyscrapersAnd tend to the gardens of luxurious homes?Who inhabit hostels,Crawl out of shacksAnd sleep with women who worship men?Coming in from a windswept nightTo the warmth of a caveI am told:Gold makes man live, underground.In Maputo the men who left for the city of goldArrived triumphantly with Frelimo.In Harare they marchWith the Seventh Brigade.In Umtata, Ulundi and GoliI continue searching for the men who dig gold.Andries W. OliphantU ntitledanother just-too-short weekend draws to a closewhileanother much-too-long week looms aheadand like all faithful cogs in the unstoppable machineI will take my place.Whenever I canI quietly slip outof the unstoppable machineand lodge myself into the new one:the one not quite complete,the one only just starting to move,but the one which promises, once in motion,to not merely stop the unstoppable,but to put it out of existence —totally, completely, once and for all!I feel comfortable in this new machine —for it is not of iron and steel,but of flesh and blood . . .Farouk Stemmet16 STAFFRIDER, VOL. 6 NO. 2, 1985