Cape Argus

Actions of unions add to job shedding

- MICHAEL BAGRAIM Cape Town

TO THE adults who care, we say: be the eyes and ears of your neighbourh­ood. Be every child’s mother or father. Make your house a safe house. Teach them the rules of life, of which the most important are: “Never walk off with a stranger. Never get into the car of a stranger. And never let anyone – even the uncle in the house – touch them on the private parts of their body.”

Encourage them to play with others of their age outside – if it’s safe to do so. But never let them out of your sight.

Nurturing children is about helping them to grow up into well-rounded, well-read young adults. So read to them, and let them read to you too.

Tell them about the birds and the bees, but don’t be shocked if they already know the story.

The important thing is for children to be provided with the knowledge to make choices that will give them the confidence to be the best they can be in an often difficult world. YOUR edition on Tuesday carried a piece:“Saftu, Amcu unite for jobs”.

It is really strange to hear how the two unions are trying to co-operate to fight unemployme­nt. However, the reality is that the unions are pushing for higher and higher wages, and the last demands made by Amcu on the mines has created an absolute disaster.

The mining industry has been shedding jobs at an enormous rate and this doesn’t look like it’s going to stop.

Over and above this, their push for the banning of labour brokers will create more unemployme­nt, and the only people who will gain anything at all are their members, who might be the last few employed.

 ?? PICTURE: MATTHEWS BALOYI ?? SPEAKING OUT: Zwelinzima Vavi addressing supporters of the new federation at its launch in Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa on Workers’ Day.
PICTURE: MATTHEWS BALOYI SPEAKING OUT: Zwelinzima Vavi addressing supporters of the new federation at its launch in Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa on Workers’ Day.

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