FEDUSA

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) sent a letter to the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, on 18 November 2011 to request that workers in South African are granted an additional public holiday next year.

“It came to our attention that during 2012, working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays. One of our Affiliates, the National Union of Leather and Allied Workers (NULAW) raised the point that Christmas falls on a Sunday in 2011 and, in terms of the Public Holidays Act it would mean that the subsequent Monday would be a public holiday. However, Monday 26 December 2011 is the Day of Goodwill, meaning that it falls outside the ambit of the Public Holidays Act as it stands. The last time this occurred was in December of 2005,” explained FEDUSA General Secretary, Dennis George.

In March of 2008 FEDUSA was also instrumental in pointing out that Good Friday and Human Rights Day fell on the same day. FEDUSA’s request to consider adding an official public holiday that year was granted by the former President, Thabo Mbeki.

Continue reading FEDUSA ASKS THE PRESIDENT FOR AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) is actively participating in talks and negotiations at this year’s COP17/CMP7 meeting hosted in Durban, Kwazulu Natal. FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George formed part of a high level panel discussion last week exploring the employment potential of greening the South African Economy.

The current talks being held from 28 November 2011 to 09 December 2011 are the 17 Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 7th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP7)

“By the end of the COP17/CMP7 meeting, FEDUSA wants developed countries to commit to ambitious emission reductions under a legally binding framework, developing countries must begin looking into ways in which they are going to effect a just transition in the future and climate finance needs to respond to the needs of the poorest of the world. Millions of workers and their families face destruction of their lands and livelihoods from extreme weather events, and some 220 million are unemployed and desperate for a secure, decent and green job,” commented FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George.

Continue reading FEDUSA COMMITTED TO 462 000 NEW GREEN JOBS

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) joins the global community in commemorating World Aids Day today, 1 December 2011.

“Today is not just about coming together as a global community to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, it is a day that should remind us of the need to educate our people, support those affected or infected and above all implement real changes in our own lives,” stated FEDUSA Deputy General Secretary, Gretchen Humphries.

FEDUSA fully endorses the theme for World Aids Day, ‘Getting to Zero’, this campaign will run from 2011 to 2015 and aims to reach the point where statistics will record zero new Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections, zero discrimination and zero acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) related deaths.

“South Africa has recorded amongst the highest numbers of people living with HIV in comparison to other countries in the world. We are joining the call to all South Africans to collectively and individually take action to stop new HIV infections. Individuals need to take responsibility and get tested, all South Africans must be encouraged to know their status,” said Humphries.

Presently 33.3 million people live with HIV worldwide and more than 7 000 new infections occur every day. Access to Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in our own country remains relatively low and we are still fighting issues of stigmatism, gender discrimination, untested multiple partners and lack of basic healthcare services.

Continue reading FEDUSA COMMEMORATES WORLD AIDS DAY