Union wins world acclaim for securing Robertson workers’ rights
The Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union has been awarded the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights. The Norwegian People’s Aid welcomes this recognition of its important work
“We congratulate our partner CSAAWU on the Arthur Svensson prize. This is an important recognition of their continuous fight for the rights of South African wine workers”, said Henriette Killi Westhrin, secretary-general at Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA).
The Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights is awarded each year for the successful promotion of labour rights throughout the world.
The prize amount is 500 000 Norwegian krone ( about R750 000), of which about half goes directly to the prize winner and the rest on projects related to the prize winner.
The money comes from the International Solidarity Fund of Norwegian labour union, Industri Energi.
The Commercial Stevedoring and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) received the prize for its constant fight for decent working conditions for severely exploited workers, and its ability to organise a grassroots movement with limited resources.Last year, the union mobilised a 14-week strike at the Robertson Winery in the Western Cape.
The action was accompan- ied by boycotts and garnered international attention, helped by the Danish documentary Bitter Grapes, which portrayed extremely poor work and accommodation conditions on South African wineries and salaries below the minimum wage.
“When we spoke to CSAAWU after they received the news about the Arthur Svensson prize, the union expressed excitement and disbelief.
“They have spent large efforts building relations with Scandinavian consumers and unions, because a lot of the wine produced on the farms employing the workers they represent ends up on the Scandinavian market,” said Kathrine Raadim, head of the international programme department at the NPA. The Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union has been awarded the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for 2017.
As a part of this effort, Deneco Dubé, paralegal adviser to CSAAWU, visited Norway in December and conducted meetings with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Norwegian wine importer Vinmonopolet.
The strike was settled with
an increase in worker’s aries.
CSAAWU will keep negotiating to improve living and working conditions at the winery.
“We are impressed by what CSAAWU has achieved and will keep supporting them in
sal-
their work.
“The Arthur Svensson prize is a strong symbol of international solidarity with the movement and will contribute to the strengthening of CSAAWU’s organisational abilities and efforts”, said Westhrin.
NPA and Norwegian union Fellesforbundet supports CSAAWU through the Trust for Community Outreach and Education.
Issued by the Norwegian People’s Aid. https:// www.npaid.org/content/view/ full/21790 CONGRATULATIONS to CSAAWU on winning the International Prize for Trade Union Rights.
The Claremont Main Road Mosque congratulates the Commercial Stevedoring and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU) on being awarded the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for 2017.
The prize money of almost R750 000, comes from the International Solidarity Fund of Norwegian labour union Industri Energi.
The award, announced on March 25, is testimony to the tireless work that CSAAWU has undertaken in its struggle for social and economic justice for severely exploited workers, and their ability to organise rural farmworkers with very limited resources.
In 2016, CSAAWU mobilised a 14-week strike of over 200 workers to demand living wages for workers at
Robertson Winery in the Western Cape.
The strike was accompanied by campaigns to boycott Robertson wines and gained international support through the Danish documentary Bitter Grapes.
The documentary exposed the below minimum wages and poor work and accommodation conditions of workers on South African wineries.
We are impressed by what the CSAAWU achieved
The strike at Robertson Winery was settled with an increase in workers’ salaries. However, the increase was far below what workers demanded, and we have full confidence that CSAAWU will keep fighting to improve living and working conditions at the winery.
The Arthur Svensson Prize money will make a significant contribution to strengthening CSAAWU’s organisational abilities and efforts to mobilise and support farmworkers in their struggle for social and economic justice.
CMRM is honoured to be one of CSAAWU’s solidarity partners and commend the farmworkers’ union for its noble work.
We pledge to continue our support for its efforts to bring justice and dignity to the most marginalised and oppressed workers in our society.
Aluta Continua!