Africa

It has been revealed that the global shortfall in healthcare professionals has reached four million people – with one million needed in Africa alone. The figures were voiced at the Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which opened in the Ugandan capital of Kampala on March 3rd.

With 349 new nuclear reactors now either under construction, on order or in the early planning stages around the world, the uranium mining industry has been kicking into high gear with a glut of new extractions underway.

INTRODUCTION

On July 4th 300 workers from the mine at Jbel Awam in the Middle Atlas went on strike to try and improve their working conditions. The management of the Compañía Minera de Touissit (CMT) refused all meetings with the trade unionists, but had the army sent in on successive occasions to stop the strikers paralysing production.

The main demands relate to quality of life. Teachers are demanding that their salaries be re-evaluated, in 1992-1993 salaries were lowered by 50-70% and this fall has not been made up. They are also demanding that all salary arrears be paid in full, including payments linked to exams. They have also asked for a housing allowance.

The strike was originally called by the Ivory Coast senior medical workers union (Synacass-ci) in relation to yearly pay negotiations. Currently a doctor receives a salary of 173000 CFA Francs (£180), the Ivory coast is suffering from major price increases, especially of staples. For example the price of 12kg of cooking gas has risen from 3500 CFA Francs to between 4500 and 5000.

Auxiliary forces and the royal gendarmerie arrived at 4am and used violence to disperse the men, women and children camped outside the mine. 29 workers were arrested and taken to the gendarmerie headquarters in Mrirt. Families and friends of those arrested have been gathered in front of the headquarters since Wednesday, demanding their release.

Workers arrived at the factory gates this morning to find this notice:

"Management informs the entire staff, both permanent and contract staff that, following the ilegal strike action which paralysed the company, a collective dismissal has been decided upon. Dismissal letters have been passed to human resources."

The management of the SRPP (Reunion petroleum products company) gave into the workers demands after less than 24 hours. Workers won a shift bonus, which is approximately equivalent to an 8% salary increase.

Teachers are demanding the payment of three months salary before the new school term starts. The government last year made an undertaking to pay teachers' wages promptly, this included an agreement to pay three months wages before the new term begins this September.

Workers launched a 72 hour stoppage on Tuesday morning, this strike follows a 48 hour stoppage two weeks ago which failed to bring management to the negotiation table. The CENOU is responsible for University transport, lodgings, food, bursaries and sanitation.

Almost twenty years after the end of Apartheid and thirteen years after the election of the ANC residents of the township of Soweto feel they have been left behind. Promises of wealth sharing have proved hollow, with any redistribution of assets seeming to end up in the hands of the emergent black middle class.

allAfrica.com reports:

According to the company, approximately 80 employees unilaterally decided to go on what it described as an illegal industrial action on Friday morning from 08:00 until 12:00. This, the company said, was in violation of its Recognition Agreement with the Namibia Public Workers Union.

Anarchism in South Africa
An interview with Michael Schmidt of the ZACF
by Alternative Libertaire

Alternative Libertaire: Could you tell briefly in which conditions/context and how Zabalaza, and then the ZACF, were built?

Previous coverage here. The Namibian reports:

Strikers have blocked the mine's main entrance since last Sunday after going on a wildcat strike in protest against the sacking of the Rosh Pinah Branch Chairman of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia, Petrus Amakali.

allAfrica.com reports:

Strikers have been blocking the Rosh Pinah mine's main entrance since Sunday, vowing to continue with the strike until the company reinstated the local branch chairman of the Mineworkers' Union of Namibia, Petrus Amakali.

Members of the National Union of Mineworkers were ballotted for strike action after the De Beers group refused their salary demands. A representative of the NUM announced that some 11000 mine-workers would join the strike.

allAfrica.com reports:

allAfrica.com reports:

The basic demand of the teachers is an increase in the allowance that they are paid towards accomodation. The planned budget for this year gives teachers 30000 CFA Francs (£29:50) a year. Average monthly wages in Ivory Coast are estimated at CFA 26200, although due to civil problems all figures are unreliable.