From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: South Africa: Union busting at Crown Cork
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 03:32:06 GMT

/** labor.newsline: 180.0 **/
** Topic: Crown Cork Settlement in South Afr **
** Written  7:13 pm  Apr  5, 1992 by africafund in cdp:labor.newsline **

                    TO: Key Labor Contacts FROM: Mike Fleshman,
                  Labor Desk Coordinator DATE: April 2, 1992

            A MAJOR VICTORY OVER CROWN CORK AND SEAL
                   BUT SHOP STEWARD MURDERED AS
                     ATTACKS ON LABOR CONTINUE


          At 3:00 AM on April 1, the National Union of
     Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and executives of the
     union busting Crown Cork and Seal Company reached final
     agreement on the return to work of all 196 union members
     fired last September for protesting violence. The settlement
     is a major victory for the union, whose members remained
     united and militant for over six months without strike pay,
     and a major defeat for Crown's white management, which had
     adamantly refused even to discuss the return of the old work
     force.

          It is also a major victory for the unions which
     represent Crown workers in the United States, the
     International Association of Machinists and the United
     Steelworkers of America.  Their uncompromising support for
     NUMSA, and the direct personal involvement of Steelworkers
     Vice President Leon Lynch and Machinists General Vice
     President George Poulin was key to forcing a settlement.

          And finally, it was a victory for the national network
     of local anti-apartheid labor committees and union activists,
     whose mobilization around the March 30 Day of Action was a
     major factor in the corporate decision to settle.
     Philadelphia Labor Committee co-Chairs Bob Kallish (SEIU) and
     Bernie Dinkin (ACTWU) were particularly central to the local
     mobilization against corporate headquarters in Pennsylvania.
     Plans for the 30th were greatly strengthened by the active
     support of the international offices of the UAW, ACTWU, the
     ILGWU, as well as that of CBTU President Bill Lucy and AFSCME
     District 1199C President Henry Nicholas.

          The battle against Crown demonstrates the importance of
     international labor solidarity and bilateral union to union
     contacts between U.S. workers and their South African
     counterparts. That solidarity flows both way was demonstrated
     last week when NUMSA workers at Caterpillar South Africa
     struck in solidarity with UAW in their historic struggle
     against the heavy equipment manufacturer.

          But the Crown settlement will not put one of the
     company's fired workers, shop steward David Radebe, back to
     work. Radebe was murdered on March 28 by Inkatha mercenaries
     near his home is Tokoza Township. His murder is a grim
     reminder that apartheid's undeclared war on South African
     labor is continuing.

          If your local has not passed a Hands Off Labor
     resolution against the violence I urge you to do so. The
     Labor Desk can provide you with sample resolutions,
     background information and posters, and a powerful 15-minute
     Stop The Violence video, in addition to Hlanganeni: A Short
     History of COSATU, a half hour video produced by COSATU
     itself that chronicles the struggle to build democratic and
     fighting trade unions in the citadel of white supremacy.

     The Africa Fund, 198 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 (212)
     962-1210.  FAX: (212) 964-8570. Via Peacenet: Africafund.

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