WE ARE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION

A MILITANT MARXIST-LENINIST TRADE UNION

we've been trailed and tested as an organisation since 1996 and before the merger. Thus, today we stand stronger and ever son united than ever before!

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OUR CONSTITUTION

THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR MASSIVE ORGANISATION

A soldier without any political or ideological training is a potential criminal. - Thomas Sankara

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BUA CWU

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Press briefings, yard meetings, elections, negotiation or even court outcomes, media releases and more should always be captured by all members to ensure we all in the loop! SING UP TODAY!

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Why you need to be a CWU Member?

The warmth of our organising arms reaches out to promote, advance and protect workers interests in communication industries like Telkom (in telecommunication), Sapo (in the postal industry), SABC (in broadcasting industry), Vodacom and MTN (in the cellular industry), CCI, (in cabling industry), Nashua and SA Blick, (in the computer industry), TDS (in information industry) and Sun Couriers (in the courier industry).

service 1

Labour Brokers

Protected from greedy labour brokers and placement agency’s.

service 2

Collective Bargaining

Become part of the attainment of better life for all and bridge the digital dividebe part of the well cared employees (through collective bargaining)

service 3

Job Security

Assist in the realisation of the enforcement of job security and job retention strategies

A brief portfolio on CWUs' activities

Communication Workers Union continues to strive for the best for all members and in order to secure their jobs, improve working conditions and protect the heritage of the union for the next generation is the task we should all fulfill together.

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CompanyMTN
Date1 Jul 2015
Issuessalary, strike, labor brokers
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MTN is finally brought into full light of the South African public after years of starving thousands of workers the true essence of empowerment in this new democratic country.

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  • project 1

    10 Years Still A Temp

    MTN strike goes national

  • project 2

    Wathinta Abafazi

    Wathinta Imbokodo

  • project 3

    Courage is found -

    in unlikely places.

  • project 4

    Unity Is Power

    National MTN Strike

  • project 5

    A Worthy Cause

    Is Always Worth Fighting For

  • project 6

    We Are Not

    FREE at eTV

  • project 7

    Leading By Example

    Always Inspires Others

  • project 8

    UniGlobal

    A True Partner

  • project 9

    Unshaken

    GS leading from the front

Our Leadership

The Communication Workers Union National leadership

team 1

Cde Clyde Mervin

President

CWU's Number 1 shop-steward and Commander in Chief.

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Cde Aubrey Tshabalala

Secretary General

The Secretary General is the chief administrative officer of CWU

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Cde Lionel Brown

Treasurer General

The Treasurer General is the chief custodian of the funds and property of CWU


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Cde Thabo Mogalane

Deputy Secretary General

Assists the Secretary General, deputise for him or her when necessary.


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Cde Sontaga Mantlhaga

1st Deputy President

Assists the President, deputise for him or her when necessary.


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Cde Ntomboxolo Maheneza

2nd Deputy President

Assists the Presidents, deputise for him or her when necessary.

About Us

The Communication Workers' Union of South Africa is the most progressive, militant and growing union in the communication industry, with a growing 18,662 members spread across most of the communication industry of South Africa. CWU is a very young trade union that was formed only on the 13th to 16th of May 1996. Anyone who does not know the background to the formation of this union may be momentarily pardoned to think it lacks experience. The formation of CWU dates back to the early 1980's when the then Post Office Employees Association (PEASA), Post and Telecommunication Workers Association (POTWA) and South African Post Telecommunication Employees Association (SAPTEA) held merger meetings.

These meetings at times had to be held in places like Zambia, outside the borders of our country, where the giants of trade union movement in South Africa, the then South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), were present and shared with us their wealth of experience on trade unionism in South Africa and on trade union movements internationally.

The racist white staff associations that existed in the then Department of Post and Telecommunication (P&T) were invited to these meetings but refused to attend, probably blinded by the illusions of comfort that they found in their racist paradise. A paradise so eagerly aided and abetted by management that was equally steeped in racism and stood to benefit all the way from the disunity of workers.

The three streams, PEASA, POTWA and SAPTEA, flowed together on the historic 26th to 27th May 1996 to form the vibrant democratic CWU. At the time of the formation of this union our membership was derived mainly from workers of Telkom and Sapo. These two industries still contribute the majority of our members, but now our scope has increased dramatically to include workers from the industries that are mentioned below.



Scope



The warmth of our organising arms reaches out to promote, advance and protect workers interests in communication industries like Telkom (in telecommunication), Sapo (in the postal industry), SABC (in broadcasting industry), Vodacom and MTN (in the cellular industry), CCI, (in cabling industry), Nashua and SA Blick, (in the computer industry), TDS (in information industry) and Sun Couriers (in the courier industry).

Our voice of reason can also be heard advancing the interests of our members in government institutions like ICASA (previously SATRA and IBA) and the Department Of Communication. Even the sky is not a limit to us as we reach out to our members in the satellite industry, like SENTECH, where we wage campaigns for a living wage and for better working conditions.

The leadership of our union, guided by our constitution, has been found organising workers in the world of arts and culture, as we have successfully done in the North West Arts Council and Klerksdorp Record, where better wages and working conditions are not the only items on our agenda, but ideas on culture as it affects our lives and on how it could contribute to building a real caring society, are exchanged with workers and artists in this important field that seeks to reflect our lives and aspirations.

Our members are always encouraged to regard CWU as an organisation that belongs to all of them as a collective. This encouragement emanates from the constitution of the union. This constitution provides for structures that safeguard worker control. A practical interpretation of this constitution is found in, among others, the following union committees.

Challenge

We challenge you, as a worker in the communication industry in South Africa, to join us so as to further improve this young union and make it a sharper spear and shield in the workers struggle. As a reader outside this industry we stand ready to accept you as a friend that supports a noble goal the betterment of the lives of workers.

Organisational Structure

The structures of the union shall comprise of the following: - National Congress; - Central Executive Committee; - National Executive Committee and sub- Committees; - Provincial Congress; - Provincial Executive Committee; - Provincial Shop Steward Council; - Local Congress; - Local Executive Committee; - Local Shop steward Councils; - Shop steward Committees and Members.

Success Rate

  • Negotiations

  • Legal Strikes

  • Legal Advice

  • Campaigns

Next Event

DETAILS #ExploitationMustFall
ENTERPRISES INVOLVED: All
TIME: TBA
DATE: TBA
Venue: Union Building, PTA
IN SUPPORT: COSATU, SACP & ANC

If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people. - Marx, Letter to His Father (1837)

Learn More From The Communist University

What Comrades Are Saying?

Express yourself on our social media platforms or send your testimonials to [email protected]

"Comrades we urge you to join the strike , remember we are fighting for our job security meaning we are fighting for the future of our kids."

client 1 Mongezi Mongameli Macozoma Cadre

"The trade union movement represents the organized economic power of the workers... It is in reality the most potent and the most direct social insurance the workers can establish. - Samuel Gompers - #VivaCWU #Amandla."

client 2 Letlhogonolo Malebadi Cadre

"AMANDLAAAAAAA!!!!VIVA CWU VIVAAAAAA!!!!!PHANSI NGE EXPLOITATION PHANSI!."

client 3 Zimisele Koning Cadre

"Labor can not stand still. It must not retreat. It must go on, or go under!!!"

A few Companies CWU Is Recognized In;

Membership Fee

Communication Workers Union aims at offering bang for buck services thus to accommodate all it's members fairly

CWU Membership

  • R80,00 /month
  • Free: Registration/Renewal
  • Benefit: Group Funeral Schemes
  • We Represent You At: Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)
  • We Assist With: Fillings of referrals
  • We Represent You At: Labour court
  • 3rd Party: legal representation
JOIN CWU

As a new or current CWU memeber one of the first books you should abide by is the constitution.

View Constitution

BUA CWU Newsletter

"BUA CWU" is the online newsletter intended for all CWU members and the public in general. It's sole purpose is to inform and educate South Africans on the current issues facing the telecommunication, broadcasting and postal services industry.

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Contact Us

We are available nation wide with locals spread across South Africa. Feel free to call in to get more information.

Say Hello, Sawubona, Molo, Lotjhani, Ndaa or Avuxeni

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Address: 222 Smit Street, 20th Floor , Braamfontein, 2017

[email protected]

Head Office: +27 11 720 0360

Name Position Phone
Thabo Mogalane Deputy General Secretary 082 710 5666
Clyde Mervin President 0827105810
Sontaga Mantlhaga 1st Deputy President 0827107638
Ntomboxolo Maheneza 2nd Deputy President 0843904431
Lionel Brown National Treasurer 082 710 6605
Velaphi Zulu Gauteng Chairperson 0824979387 / 0827107807
Siphiwe Mdletshe KZN Chairperson 0716038197
Riedwaan Vermeulen Western Cape Chairperson 0827106355 / 0842053632
Bonke Mfenqe Eastern Cape Chairperson 0842521914 / 0458394237
Thami Mzileni Kwazulu Natal Administrator 082 710 6022
Ronnie Sixhiba Eastern Cape Administrator 0813636162
Wayne Bredenkamp Western Cape Administrator 0614813989
Solly Gewers Northern Cape Administrator 0614834671
Cleo Gaalemelwe Gauteng Administrator 011 720 0360
Aubrey Tshabalala General Secretary 0829948196

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