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DESCRIPTION:Rehire Namibian Miners Workers Union Rossing Branch Union Leaders\n 
 Solidarity Action-International Days Of Action\nFriday Feb 12, 2021 4:00 
 PM\nSan Francisco Chinese Consulate \n1450 Laguna St/Geary St. San 
 Francisco\nGlobal Solidarity Committee To Rehire Namibian Mine  Union 
 Rossing Leaders\nLabormedia1(at)gmail.com\n\nSponsored by\nUnited Front 
 Committee For A Labor 
 Party\nhttps://foramasslaborparty.wordpress.com\nFreedom Socialist Party 
 FSP\nHigher Education Action Team CCSF HEAT\nUnited Public Workers For 
 Action www.upwa.info\n\nNine Executive members of the Namibian Miners 
 Workers Union Rossing Branch were fired in September by the  Chinese 
 National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Rossing Uranium Limited which wanted 
 them to give healthcare concessions, give-backs and also allow the 
 importation of Chinese workers that were undermining the conditions and 
 benefits of Namibian woorkers.\n\nThe arbitration hearing on this illegal 
 discharge of the entire union leadership will be held on Feb 15 in Nambia. 
 There will be solidarity actions at all Chinese embassies and consulates 
 around the world. In the United States since it it a national holiday will 
 have there will be actions at US Chinese consulates and the embassy on 
 Friday February 12, 2021 and around the world on Feb 15th.\n\n\nSolidarity 
 Movement for the Unfairly Dismissed Branch Executive Committee of Namibia 
 Mine Workers Union Rossing Branch\n\nWe reach out to you our brothers and 
 sisters,fellow workers and comrades across all corners of the world to 
 stand with us in solidarity against victimization, intimidation, abuse of 
 powers and employers that don’t follow the labor laws and legislation of 
 the country. \n\nThe management of Rossing Uranium Ltd. Is one of those 
 employers that did so on the 29th September 2020 when they decided to 
 unlawfully and unprocedurally dismiss the entire branch executive committee 
 of 9 employees in their individual capacities for allegations they claim we 
 apparently acted as a unit and for being part of the branch executive 
 committee making this an attack on the Union. \n\nWe condemn this cowardly 
 acts because not only have they violated the Namibian Constitution, the 
 Labour Act 11 of 2007, the Procedural (Recognition) Agreement of 14th 
 November 1988 but they have infringed on the very rights our forefathers 
 gave us through the birth of independence and through various great strikes 
 of workers. \n\nThe birth of the Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) was at 
 Rossing Uranium Ltd in the 1970’s and most of the Union leaders elected 
 in office will attest to this, “from the very first day you become a 
 Union Leader at Rossing Uranium Branch, its like the spirits of our 
 forefathers come over you and guide you in everything you do with only one 
 goal and that is to work for the people’’.\n\nSince we took up office 
 in 2017 we made it our aim to stand up for workers right; to stop any 
 violations from the company; to built sound labour relations with the 
 company; to educate and train our members on company policies,agreements 
 and conditions of employment; to expose criminal activities and never 
 compromise anything. \n\nThe Rossing Uranium management wrote letters with 
 intensions of renegotiating our conditions of employment to worse off 
 conditions on a number of occasions but we reminded them that those 
 condition did not come on a silver platter and that the Labour Act of 
 Namibia says that an employer cannot change an existing condition to a 
 worse off one and if there is a dispute on a condition of employment the 
 condition that is better off prevails. \n\nThis frustrated the management, 
 who threatened to remove the Union office, branch chairperson’ full-time 
 office and boardroom on site in an effort to disable and sabotage Union 
 activities of the branch executive committee. They further started 
 targeting Union leaders ( the regional chairperson, the general secretary 
 and a former national president of the Union) with a price tag on their 
 heads to start plotting against us. \n\nIt was the general secretary and 
 the regional chairperson of MUN that betrayed us through a letter they 
 wrote to the company saying that the branch did not have authority to 
 appoint a lawyer to act on the branch’ behalf of which the MUN 
 Constitution says otherwise, the sad story is the company has the audacity 
 to ask the national office whether the branch had permission or not, and a 
 Union member of MUN is a juridical person and the Rossing Uranium Ltd is a 
 juridical person and neither persons have authority over the other on how 
 each runs their affairs. \n\nThis dismissal have affected not us but our 
 family, extended family and the community we serve emotionally; physically 
 and financially as we were dismissed for standing up for the workers rights 
 and conditions, the employers are doing what they want because they have 
 the financial muscles do what they want and if they get any resistance from 
 anyone they deal with them any way they see fit. We have each worked an 
 average of more than 10 years for Rossing Uranium Ltd and some of us our 
 fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, nieces and cousins have worked for Rossing 
 and that inspired us to go work there. \nIt is really hurtful to loose your 
 job like that and not knowing what the future holds for you, we are still 
 young and still have many more years to work, the oldest of our comrade is 
 49 years and the youngest 32 years. We currently facing serious financial 
 and emotional  hardships as a result of this dismissals. \n\n\n\nWe call on 
 every worker and every comrade to stand with us in solidarity and condemn 
 any employer that is in violation of workers rights. We also appeal to 
 comrades, brothers and sisters to assist us with any financial support 
 during this time as we fight Rossing Uranium Ltd through the justice system 
 for their unlawful acts.\n\nThe Union will always advocate for fairness, 
 equal treatment and justice for all. \n\nIn solidarity the Dismissed BEC 
 Rossing Branch.\n\nFor further information & for solidarity statements 
 contact\nJohannes Hamutenya NMWU Rossing Branch Chair\n jhamutenya@live.com 
 \nGeorge Martin, NMWU Rossing Branch 
 Secretary\nnehoya141082@gmail.com\n\n\nNamibia Mine Workers Union Rossing 
 Branch Letter to Chinese President Xi-Jinping\n\nIn Africa there is a 
 thread that connects us together, we believe in an African adage" Muntu 
 Muntu Movantu" a person is a person because of persons. \n\nIt was never 
 the rabbit or tortoise, the lion or the ant, it is and was always all about 
 the community, sharing and caring for one another and that is why although 
 we are the mother of civilization, it was never used to colonise others, we 
 always strive to be one people on smaller and large scale, that to us is 
 communism and spectacular socialism, that ideology widens our arms to 
 welcome citizens of the world in their various forms  as brothers and 
 sisters in macro economics as investors.\n\n\nThe Light Away Difference 
 \n\nUnder Rio Tinto, as employees of Rossing Uranium Limited we were part 
 of the greater Rio Tinto and enjoyed sound labour relations characterized 
 by humanity, respect and mutual benefit for employer and employees, 
 compliance with legislations, etc., we co existed, enjoyed industrial 
 stability, peace and harmony. \n\nWe always strive and looked forward to a 
 better tomorrow, a notion and an ideology that seemed alien to Chinese 
 government employees assigned to Rossing Uranium Limited as Management 
 under the Chinese watch.\n\nHarassment and Job Security Mirth \n\nAlthough 
 continuity of employment was under threat as Rio Tinto sought to diversify, 
 the announcement that Chinese Owned Company was the new majority 
 shareholders terrified sending shock waves to employees. Negating employees 
 to demand a pay out from Rio Tinto before CNNC takes over, however Rio 
 Tinto assured employees that CNNC was carefully selected, it is  a Chinese 
 company with a high level of ethics and that we should be rest assured and 
 they will be a good employer, a dream we had awaken from. \n\nWe can only 
 conclude that if that was image, then it seems that during the selection 
 the claws were retracte because immediately upon arrival we started 
 receiving requests to renegotiate agreements that we have enjoyed over many 
 years under Rio Tinto. \n\nPerpetually demanded the changing of employment 
 conditions to less favorable and the Revocation of the existing procedural 
 (recognition) agreement, leave days, Sick leaves days, recruitment policy 
 and the performance and conduct procedure (disciplinary code) etc,. \n\nAs 
 Namibians the least we can get for exploitations of our natural resources 
 is discent employment, no slavery, no victimization, no exploitation, no 
 abuse, no intimidation, no unbearable conditions, etc. \n\nDuring the 
 diplomatic meetings, we were repeatedly reminded of the role the People 
 Republic of China played during the fight of the war our liberation, 
 independence,  against lawless, discrimination, economic slavery, 
 corruption, abuse of power, autocracy, dictatorship, colonization, etc., 
 \n\nIt seems the savior have become the killer, as it seems more of 
 changing of hands, from a hyena to a tiger. There is no difference between 
 that dark dispensation and these deplorable exploitative and draconian iron 
 fist dehumanizing treatment that we were subjected too as Union leaders and 
 for the management of Rossing Uranium Ltd to scoope to such low, cheap and 
 uncalled for tactics just to get rid of us putting the workers through the 
 very oppressing system that our forefathers fought through the struggles. 
 \n\nYour Chinese Nationals at Rossing Uranium Limited profess to be people 
 of peace, it is not so in its real sense but its rather Marshall law, do as 
 the master says and rulling by inflicting fear. That is exactly what 
 Chinese Management Assigned to Rossing Uranium Ltd did to us without a 
 single ethical, emotional or humantarian consideration. We are left to 
 question the real advancement of this Chinese management, can it be that we 
 are dealing with coded machines under instruction to destroy? \n\nIt 
 further seems, when we rejected bribe advances from Mr Feng, we became 
 meat. It is a shame that the next uprising in Namibia or greater Africa or 
 the world is an uprising against Chinese colonialism. \n\nThe Chinese 
 ambassador to Namibia committed that Rossing will operate for many years, 
 we never knew it will come at the price of slavery. \n\nYour citizens 
 deployed as management orchestrated our dismissal at all cost, they started 
 by threatening us, writing letters of instruction to the union head office 
 to discipline us, threatening to remove our agreements and privileges and 
 finally touching us and our family by fabricating charges on witch hunt 
 tactics and doing everything in their power against all odds to dismiss us. 
 \n\nWe the nine dismissed employees have an average of 102 people that 
 directly depended on us month to month, we bought cars, houses, clothing 
 and furniture on credit, some of our kids were attending private schools, 
 being driven every day to school by ourselves or by taxis, today we are not 
 able to provide for our families just because of exercising union rights as 
 represented of employees as per the Labour Act 11 of 2007 and Procedural 
 (Recognition) agreement 14 November 1988 and the Namibian Constitution. 
 \n\nUnder Rio Tinto, Rossing was always an employer of choice, however 
 under the  Chinese majority ownership, it has become an employer of no 
 choice and un \nemployment \n\nMr Xi Ping, communism that you and the good 
 people of China stand for is about community, the people and their welfare. 
 The action of your citizens not only threatens the stability, sovereignty 
 and constitutionalism but also the already destatible name not only of your 
 people but nation. \n\nThe hate and destate will continue to rise if you as 
 the chief in command does not take a stand of humanity against the 
 humanitarian crimes that your people have committed against us. \n\nUnless 
 it is your instruction to subdue, conquer, eliminate others and enslave 
 others. If it is not,  then we seek your solidarity stance, your 
 intervention to restore our employment and equally pronounce a word to your 
 people at Rossing Uranium Limited and the greater Namibia to refrain from 
 mistreating Namibian employees. \n\nAlthough we believe that you will act, 
 time is against us as we do not know how long it will take for this letter 
 to get to you, if ever and when will you act. Our families and us are in 
 dare need of survival, we are sowing in the wind hoping seeding for a 
 ground harvest. \n\nOur names have been made dirty and tarnished, getting 
 employment in Namibia is almost impossible, it is the same as  expecting a 
 Chicken to grow teeth, therefore re-employment looks like the only option 
 that can happen if you intervene. \n\nMean while as we eagerly await your 
 imminent intervention, We appeal to the international communities, Unions 
 in Africa, America, Australia, Russia, United Kingdom, South and Noth 
 America, in China and Asia and to all non governmental, etc, to help us to 
 fight this morden colonialism and slavery. \n\nYours Comradely, \n\nThe 9 
 dismissed Rossing Branch Executive Committee 
 members\n\n\n\n致親愛的習主席，我們向所有的中國工人階級問好。 
  \n 
 \n\n在非洲有一句格言能將我們的距離拉近，我們相信非洲格言"MuntuMuntuMovantu"，人之所以為人是因為人。 
 我們之間的關係並不是兔子與烏龜，獅子或螞蟻。 
 我們應該互助互信互愛，這就是為什麼雖然非洲是人類誕生的搖籃，我們卻從來不奴役其他人，不論是小到人民或是大到國家我們總是向著共產主義和壯觀的社會主義努力，這種意識形態使我們強大，並歡迎世界公民兄弟姐妹以各種形式作為宏觀經濟的作為投資者。 
  \n\n \n 
 \n我們作為雇員，曾在力拓公司下享有良好的勞動關係，非常人性化、僱主和雇員相互尊重和互信互利、在遵守法律規定下，我們是共生的關係，享受公司的穩定、和平與和諧。 
 我們一直努力朝一個更美好的明天邁進，這樣的概念與意識形態，似乎新上任的中國官員似乎完全不了解。 
 \n\n 
 \n儘管我們已知力拓集團歡迎各方注資，我們將有可能失去我們的工作，但真正宣布中國獨資公司成為新大股東的公告，依然給員工帶來衝擊。在CNNC接手之前，為了阻止員工們拿錢離職，力拓向員工保證，CNNC是經過精心挑選的，這是一家具有高度道德規範的中國公司，我們應該放心，他們將將會是我們夢寐以求的雇主。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n我們只能說如果這是真的，中國公司隱藏的非常好。因為在他們接手後他們馬上露出馬腳，我們立刻被要求重新簽工作合約，更改我們已經享受多年的工作福利。 
  \n\n他們不斷的調降工作福利，並撤銷現有的工作合同、休假日、病假日、招聘政策和績效和紀律守則等。 
  \n\n \n 
 \n作為納米比亞人，我們希望以我們的自然資源來交換一份體面的工作，沒有奴役，沒有受害，沒有剝削，沒有虐待，沒有恐嚇，沒有惡劣的工作條件等等。在外交會議上，中國政府不斷提醒我們他們曾幫助我們對抗、獨立、反對不法、歧視、經濟奴役、腐敗、濫用權力、獨裁、獨裁、殖民化等， 
 看來救世主已經成了殺手，看來我們只是從虎口轉到蛇口之下。我們所遭遇到的不法與剝削與之前並無不同，我們所遭到的打壓甚至猶有過之， 
 我們依然像我們的祖先一樣為生存而掙扎奮鬥。 \n\n \n 
 \n你們在公司高層的中國官員自稱希望和平解決，他所做的更像是戒嚴，要我們言聽計從，並通過製造恐懼令行禁止。中國管理層對我們所做的，既不道德、不合情不合禮亦不合法。我們強烈懷疑中國政府給我們帶來的是進步還是毀滅？現在看來，當我們拒絕方先生的賄賂時，我們就成了盤中肉。遺憾的是，納米比亞、非洲或世界的下一次起義是反對中國殖民主義的起義。 
 當時中國駐納米比亞大使向我們承諾，羅辛鈾公司將運作多年不會驟然倒閉，我們卻不知道這意味著此公司接下來對我們的奴役。 
  \n\n \n 
 \n公司的管理層，認為與我們溝通是浪費時間，並想直接開除不聽話的員工。 
 他們一開始從威脅我們，並寫譴責信給我們的公會，希望工會能管束我們，威脅要取消約定好的工作福利與條件，最後竟捏造不實的指控給我們的家人，並盡其所能解僱我們。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n我們這9名被解僱的員工，每人平均支持著102人的生活，他們依賴我們的工作生活，我們貸款購買了汽車、房屋、衣服和傢俱，我們的孩子在私立學校上學，依賴我們接送或搭乘計程車。我們再也無法根據1988年11月14日的納米比亞憲法與2007年《勞動法》第11條協定行使雇員代表的工會權利而為家庭提供基本生活。 
 \n\n \n \n在力拓（Rio 
 Tinto）的收購下，羅辛鈾一直是員工中排名第一的大公司，然而在中國多數股權之下的羅辛鈾已成為員工無奈的選擇或著是失業。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n習近平同志，你和中國代表的共產主義，是社會保障、人民福祉及其福利。你們公民的行為不僅威脅到國家的穩定、主權和憲政，而且不僅只危害到他們自己的名聲，也危害著中華人民共和國的名聲。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n如果您作為指中國主席不根據人道立場反對你們人民對我們犯下的種種不公，仇恨和厭惡將繼續增加。除非這一切的悲劇是源自於您的指示。如果不是，那麼我們尋求你的支援，你們的干預，以恢復我們的工作，並向羅斯鈾有限公司和納米比亞的人民呼籲，不要虐待納米比亞雇員。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n雖然我們相信您會採取行動，但時間對我們不利，因為我們不知道這封信要多久才能送到，或著當您確實收到之後，您何時會採取行動。我們的家庭和我們急需生存，我們寄託希望於此封信，像是在孤島的瓶中信，並期待您的救援。在納米比亞我們的名字被弄髒了，被玷污了，幾乎不可能在本地找到工作，這和守株待兔沒有什麼不同，因此您的干預是我們能夠得到工作的唯一機會。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n當我們急切地等待著您的介入時，我們同時呼籲國際社會、非洲、美國、澳大利亞、俄羅斯、聯合王國、南美洲和北美、中國和亞洲的聯盟以及所有非政府等，幫助我們打擊這種現代殖民主義和奴隸制。我們一直聲援中國工人階級。我們知道中國是一個人民的國家，是世界工人階級的珍貴標竿。 
 \n\n \n 
 \n當資本主義解放資本家在公開市場上奴役和剝削工人階級時，我們知道俄羅斯和中國將是工人階級從資本主義壓迫、壓迫和剝削中解放出來的助力。 
 我們沒想到的是，非洲工人階級在脫離殘酷的資本主義剝削之後所換來的不是解放，我們現面臨著失去一切，那是我們與我們祖先一個多世紀以來苦苦奮鬥和犧牲所得來。 
 我們懇求你們進行干預，恢復我們的權利，並協助我們進一步鞏固我們的公會和法律權利。我 
 們懇求你， 聯絡羅辛鈾管理層。  \n \n\n \n 
 \n　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　你的同志，9人被免職的羅辛科執行委員會成員\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSolidarity 
 Movement for the Unfairly Dismissed Branch Executive Committee of Namibia 
 Mine Workers Union Rossing Branch\n\nWe reach out to you our brothers and 
 sisters,fellow workers and comrades across all corners of the world to 
 stand with us in solidarity against victimization, intimidation, abuse of 
 powers and employers that don’t follow the labor laws and legislation of 
 the country. The management of Rossing Uranium Ltd. Is one of those 
 employers that did so on the 29th September 2020 when they decided to 
 unlawfully and unprocedurally dismiss the entire branch executive committee 
 of 9 employees in their individual capacities for allegations they claim we 
 apparently acted as a unit and for being part of the branch executive 
 committee making this an attack on the Union. We condemn this cowardly acts 
 because not only have they violated the Namibian Constitution, the Labour 
 Act 11 of 2007, the Procedural (Recognition) Agreement of 14th November 
 1988 but they have infringed on the very rights our forefathers gave us 
 through the birth of independence and through various great strikes of 
 workers. The birth of the Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) was at 
 Rossing Uranium Ltd in the 1970’s and most of the Union leaders elected 
 in office will attest to this, “from the very first day you become a 
 Union Leader at Rossing Uranium Branch, its like the spirits of our 
 forefathers come over you and guide you in everything you do with only one 
 goal and that is to work for the people’’.\n\nSince we took up office 
 in 2017 we made it our aim to stand up for workers right; to stop any 
 violations from the company; to built sound labour relations with the 
 company; to educate and train our members on company policies,agreements 
 and conditions of employment; to expose criminal activities and never 
 compromise anything. The Rossing Uranium management wrote letters with 
 intensions of renegotiating our conditions of employment to worse off 
 conditions on a number of occasions but we reminded them that those 
 condition did not come on a silver platter and that the Labour Act of 
 Namibia says that an employer cannot change an existing condition to a 
 worse off one and if there is a dispute on a condition of employment the 
 condition that is better off prevails. This frustrated the management, who 
 threatened to remove the Union office, branch chairperson’ full-time 
 office and boardroom on site in an effort to disable and sabotage Union 
 activities of the branch executive committee. They further started 
 targeting Union leaders ( the regional chairperson, the general secretary 
 and a former national president of the Union) with a price tag on their 
 heads to start plotting against us. It was the general secretary and the 
 regional chairperson of MUN that betrayed us through a letter they wrote to 
 the company saying that the branch did not have authority to appoint a 
 lawyer to act on the branch’ behalf of which the MUN Constitution says 
 otherwise, the sad story is the company has the audacity to ask the 
 national office whether the branch had permission or not, and a Union 
 member of MUN is a juridical person and the Rossing Uranium Ltd is a 
 juridical person and neither persons have authority over the other on how 
 each runs their affairs. \n\nThis dismissal have affected not us but our 
 family, extended family and the community we serve emotionally; physically 
 and financially as we were dismissed for standing up for the workers rights 
 and conditions, the employers are doing what they want because they have 
 the financial muscles do what they want and if they get any resistance from 
 anyone they deal with them any way they see fit. We have each worked an 
 average of more than 10 years for Rossing Uranium Ltd and some of us our 
 fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, nieces and cousins have worked for Rossing 
 and that inspired us to go work there. \nIt is really hurtful to loose your 
 job like that and not knowing what the future holds for you, we are still 
 young and still have many more years to work, the oldest of our comrade is 
 49 years and the youngest 32 years. We currently facing serious financial 
 and emotional  hardships as a result of this dismissals. \n\n\n\nWe call on 
 every worker and every comrade to stand with us in solidarity and condemn 
 any employer that is in violation of workers rights. We also appeal to 
 comrades, brothers and sisters to assist us with any financial support 
 during this time as we fight Rossing Uranium Ltd through the justice system 
 for their unlawful acts.\n\nThe Union will always advocate for fairness, 
 equal treatment and justice for all. \n\nIn solidarity the Dismissed BEC 
 Rossing Branch.\n\nFor further information & for solidarity statements 
 contact\nJohannes Hamutenya NMWU Rossing Branch Chair\n jhamutenya@live.com 
 or 00264 81 41 000 17\nGeorge Martin, NMWU Rossing Branch 
 Secretary\nnehoya141082@gmail.com\n\n\n\n\nAn Injury To One Is An Injury To 
 All! \nRehire The Mine Workers Union Of Namibia Rossing Branch leadership 
 NOW! \nStatement of the United Front Committee For A Labor Party UFCLP\nThe 
 United Front Committee For A Labor Party (UFCLP) demands the rehiring of 
 the fired  9 union leaders of the Mine Workers Union of Namibia MUN 
 Rosssing branch. The union leaders have been fighting against a union 
 busting assault  by the  China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC) 
 which bought the mine from Rio Tinto. The CNUC  promised  that they would 
 abide by the union contract and also Namibian labor laws. Namibia produces 
 10% of the world’s uranium and CNUC now has control of all the uranium 
 mines of Namibia.\nFar from abiding by the national labor laws and union  
 contract, CNUC bosses  demanded that the workers in the midst of the 
 Covid-19 pandemic make concessions on their heathcare benefits. They also 
 improperly brought in Chinese workers and worked them from 7:00 AM to 10:00 
 PM at night not only harming their health and safety but undermining the 
 labor conditions of Namibian Rossing mine workers. \nThey also egaged in an 
 illegal effort to   bribe the union chairman Johannes Hamutenya promising 
 him a promotion and a car for his sister and also  providing her with 
 education  in China.\nThe Rossing branch union leadership refused to bend 
 on concessions and went public with the efforts to bribe them and on July 
 2, 2020,  the union leaders of the branch were terminated.\nWhether union 
 busting comes from corporations from the US, Britian, Australia or any 
 other capitalist country or from China it is encumbent that the rights of 
 workers be defended in every country of’\nthe world.\nUFCLP demands the 
 CNUC immediately rehire these workers with full back pay and that they end 
 their organized effort to destroy the union and replace it with a company 
 controlled union that represents the\nCorporation.\nChina has claimed that 
 it is developing “Socialism With Chinese Characteristics” but this 
 union busting internationally has nothing to do with socialism. When the 
 Chinese shipping company Cosco bought the Greek  Port of Piraeus they 
 attacked the Greek Port Workers Union and destroyed it at the port. \nIn 
 British Columba at the Tumbler Ridge, B.C. mine, Chinese corporations   
 refused to hire  Canadian miners who were represented by the Construction 
 and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 and the International Union of 
 Operating Engineers Local 115 because they claimed these workers did not  
 have experience in underground mining.  Instead they brought in Chinese 
 workers to work the mine undermining the conditions and benefits of 
 Canadian workers.\nIn South Africa at Chinese development projects instead 
 of using skilled South African workers they have imported Chinese workers. 
 The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa NUMSA has also charged 
 that Chinese workers brought into South Africa on development projects have 
 in many cases  worse benefits and wages than South African workers. The 
 BRICS according to NUMSA General Secretary Irvin Jim is not really 
 benefiting the workers of South Africa.\nWhile the UFCLP is against the US 
 imperialist sanctions against China and the military encirclement of China 
 by the US, we must stand always with workers around the world who face 
 exploitation whether from US capitalists or  Chinese government 
 corporations like CNUC.\nSend  resolutions and donations in solidarity and 
 join the international campaign to defend the Mine Workers Union Of Namibia 
 Rossing Branch leaders.\nRehire the Mine Workers Union  Rossing Branch  
 Union Leaders!\nStop CNUC Union Busting!\nAn Injury To One Is An Injury To 
 All!\nUFCLP\nhttps://foramasslaborparty.wordpress.com\nhttps://www.facebook.com/masslaborpartyusa/\nTo 
 Contact NMWU Rossing Branch\nJohannes Hamutenya MWUN Rossing Branch Chair\n 
 jhamutenya(at)live.com\nGeorge Martin,MWUN Rossing Branch 
 Secretary\nnehoya141082(at)gmail.com\n\nA Brief Struggle of the Union 
 Movement in Namibia (South West Africa).\n\nSwakopmund, Namibia, 
 Africa.\n\n\njhamutenya(at)live.com, \nnehoya141082(at)gmail.com\n\nTo: 
 Workers and Union Movements World Wide\n\nRE: A Brief Struggle of the Union 
 Movement in Namibia (South West Africa).\n\nThe Namibian Working class has 
 since the late 1800 been confronted with exploitation and general labour 
 unrest. In the 1900 we had various strikes, notably the 1971 – 1972 
 general great strike. It was against all forms of abuses in all sectors of 
 the industry. The strike brought the whole country to stand still. This 
 showed the shared power of the working class, it set of the seismic power 
 of the working class, demonstrating to the whole Africa how powerful the 
 working class can be. It was the most historic demonstration of the power 
 of the working class, it inspired the whole southern Africa to rise up and 
 indeed the whole working class of southern Africa rose up in 1973.\n\nThe 
 union movement got into focus, so much so that the struggle spilled back 
 from South Africa into Namibia, that in 1978 the labour movement (union) 
 was born in Rossing Uranium Mine. They tried to brutally suppress but they 
 did not succeed, jailing the leaders under Administrative General (AG) 
 proclamation 26. The repression continued but failed to supress the rising 
 working movement, in 1984 the workers won the rights to organize the union 
 movement and register trade unions. The culmination of those rights were 
 contained in the 1992 Labour Act (Legislation), the pinnacle of labour 
 rights in Namibia.\n\nThe problem is while as the Namibian working class 
 succeeded in winning these significant union and labour rights as was 
 enshrined in 1992 Labour Act and the 1990 Democratic Constitution of 
 Namibia, the multinational corporation came down with vengeance to try 
 nullifying the unions and labour rights in its entirety. The last bastion 
 of Labour Rights Rossing Uranium Mine is now under massive attack by the 
 Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Rossing Uranium Limited, if 
 Rossing Labour Rights falls then, it is the end of unions and labour 
 working class rights in Namibia.\n\nThe ultimate vision is to defend and 
 restore union rights with all the legal and all the other possible and 
 impossible means at our disposal, as the anti-union actions will not only 
 be the destruction of union rights but also the destruction of the rule of 
 law and all the fundamental rights that Namibians fought for.\n\nWe have 
 inalienable rights of freedom of association and the democratic rights of 
 juristic persons, for foreign corporations and multinational corporations 
 to override the rights of juristic persons in Namibia, individuals or 
 corporate is the end of fundamental rights in this country (Namibia).\n\nIn 
 this particular case, since Chinese National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) 
 became majority shareholder of Rossing Uranium, when they bought out Rio 
 Tinto round about July 2019, the Chinese management used every opportunity 
 to suppress and threaten union rights, they are anti-union which translate 
 in anti-workers’ rights. They came to outs and uproot the dully elected 
 organ of the union which was established in terms of the Supreme Law of 
 Namibia (Constitution), Labour Legislation (Labour Act), and MUN 
 Constitution. By doing so they destroyed the corporation existence of the 
 union as a juristic person. It must be understood that the agreement 
 between Mine Workers Union of Namibia( Union) and Rossing Uranium Mine is 
 between two independent juristic persons, who has the legal capacity 
 competence to conclude an agreement between two equal legal entities. 
 Contractual relation between entities in a democracy like Namibia is only 
 enforceable between two equal entities in this case between the union and 
 the mine.\n\nFor the mine to dismiss an organ of the union is a complete 
 renunciation of the law of contract, what will be the full social economic 
 and political implication of this? It will mean Namibia is not a sovereign 
 state, there is no rule of law, and legal entities in Namibia are without 
 any legal protection.\n\nWe as leaders of the workers movement (union) will 
 defend this fundamental rights which Namibian workers have fought for more 
 than a century, we therefore appeal to the union movements worldwide to 
 assist us to resist the destruction of the union rights in this country and 
 to stop the defeat that has been inflicted on the working class of Namibia, 
 not only at China Nation Nuclear Corporation Rossing Uranium Limited Ltd, 
 but Nationwide.\n\nThe Struggle Continues\n\nThe Nine Dismissed Union 
 Leaders \n\nSolidarity support statement sent to\n\nJohannes Hamutenya NMWU 
 Rossing Branch Chair\n jhamutenya@live.com\nGeorge Martin, NMWU Rossing 
 Branch Secretary\nnehoya141082@gmail.com\n\nNamibian Rössing mine workers 
 left exposed -  National Miners Union Supports Rössing Union 
 Branch\n\nNational Miners Union Supports Rössing Union 
 Branch\nhttps://informante.web.na/?p=293745\nPosted by Daniel Terblanche  
 \n\nDate: Jul 15, 2020 in: Breaking News\n\nNiël Terblanché\n\nTACTICS by 
 the Chinese owners and managers of Namibia’s oldest uranium mine to 
 decapitate the Branch Executive Committee (BEC) of the Mine Workers Union 
 of Namibia (MUN) at Rössing from its regional and national structure has 
 failed.\n\nThe dispute started when the proxies of the Chinese Government, 
 China National Nuclear Corporation, unilaterally decided to do away with a 
 decades-old right of union representatives to be afforded their own office 
 space for administrative purposes is now growing into an inevitable 
 confrontation which could lead to criminal charges being brought against 
 individuals in the mine’s management structure.\n\nHowever, the COVID-19 
 pandemic and resultant restrictive measures have reduced a festering 
 dispute at the mine to a contest of letter writing skills.\n\nRössing 
 Chinese owners managers Namibia uranium mine Branch Executive Committee BEC 
 Mine Workers Union\nLOOMING SHOWDOWN: The President of the Mine Workers 
 Union of Namibia, Allan Kalumbu, is concerned about workers of Rössing 
 Uranium Limited being treated as second-class citizens by the Chinese mine 
 owners.\nA letter of demand by the legal representatives of the BEC to 
 restore the union’s entrenched rights led to the summary suspension of 
 committee members and shop stewards which left workers on the mine without 
 any representation and exposed to the whims of the Chinese managers.\n\nTo 
 counter the move by the mine’s management, workers elected interim shop 
 stewards to represent them if and when the need would arise.\n\nThe 
 managers in a letter, however, notified the workers that the people in 
 acting positions will not be recognised as legitimate union 
 representatives.\n\nThe workers then countered by informing the management 
 in a letter that they intend to withhold labour by staying on the buses 
 that transports them until such time that they are allowed to hand over a 
 petition in which they demand that the suspension of the BEC members must 
 be lifted.\n\nThe mine informed the workers in a letter that “staying on 
 the bus” would be tantamount to an illegal strike and in contradiction of 
 a certain section in the Procedural Agreement that they have signed with 
 their employers and that matter will be dealt with in terms of the 
 company’s performance and conduct procedure.\n\nThe MUN’s Regional 
 Chairperson, Abiud Kapere, said the situation at the mine has become 
 untenable because the BEC members were suspended and that they were 
 informed that it is subject to an investigation of some kind.\n\n“We 
 still have to be informed what the investigation is all about,” Kapere 
 said.\n\nHe said that in the meantime the MUN’s regional leadership has 
 engaged the mine’s management in a letter and requested that the handover 
 of the petition be put on hold until an amicable point can be reached 
 between the two parties.\n\n“They have since sent us a letter that a 
 moratorium was placed on further disciplinary action against the BEC 
 members,” Kapere said.\n\nThe President of the MUN, Allan Kalumbu, said 
 the current situation at the mine is of grave concern to the 
 Union.\n\n“The workers are left exposed and we are reduced to 
 corresponding with letters to rectify the situation. It would be better if 
 we all could sit around a table where the way forward can be hammered out 
 and discussed,” he said.\n\nKalumbu said that with the State of Emergency 
 in place the national body can hardly do anything and added that it would 
 be a very sad day in Namibia’s labour history if the COVID-19 pandemic is 
 used as a loophole by the management of China National Nuclear Corporation 
 to dismiss workers.\n\n\nFor Solidarity Contributions Send To Their Bank 
 Account "Union Affairs"\n\nPress Statement By The Rössing Executive Branch 
 Of The Mineworkers Unioon Of Nambia (NUM) To All The Workers of Namibia & 
 Our International 
 Comrades\nhttps://www.facebook.com/MUN-mineworkers-union-of-Namibia-1657250891189662/\nThe 
 online platform, Further Africa, on 19 July 2019 reported that, “Chinese 
 state-owned entities have effectively \ntaken control of uranium mining in 
 Namibia, following the takeover of Rössing uranium mine by China National 
 Uranium \nCorporation Limited (CNUC).\nRio Tinto announced on Tuesday, 16 
 July 2019, that it has completed the sale of its 69 percent stake in 
 Rössing Uranium \nLimited, which owns the Rössing mine near Arandis in 
 Erongo region.\nThe Rössing uranium mine situated in the Namib Desert is 
 the world’s longest-running open pit uranium mine.\nThe mine has been 
 producing and exporting uranium oxide from Namibia to nuclear power 
 utilities around the world \nsince its inception in 1976.\nChinese 
 state-owned entities have effectively taken control of uranium mining in 
 Namibia, following the takeover of \nRössing uranium mine by China 
 National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC).\nRio Tinto announced on 
 Tuesday, 16 July 2019, that it has completed the sale of its 69 percent 
 stake in Rössing Uranium \nLimited, which owns the Rössing mine near 
 Arandis in Erongo region.\nThe Rössing uranium mine situated in the Namib 
 Desert is the world’s longest-running open pit uranium mine.”\nOn 26 
 July 2019 the CNUC (China Nuclear Uranium Corporation) formally took over 
 as a majority shareholder of the Rössing \nUranium Mine. With it, the 
 Chinese mining management inherited the Collective Agreement of 1988 
 between the Mine Workers \nUnion of Namibia (MUN) and Rössing Uranium. The 
 MUN like the CNUCwere juristic persons, equal before the law. They were 
 both \ntied to the terms of the collective agreement, which were legally 
 enforceable.\nIn terms of the MUN’s legal status it had a duly elected 
 union branch executive at the Rössing mine. The branch is legally 
 \nuntouchable by the mine management.\nThis Rössing branch executive 
 committed itself and worked to rebuild the union to its original vision and 
 to restore the solidarity \namongst workers both nationally and 
 internationally.\nOn 2 July 2020, the management suspended the executive 
 from their individual employment positions on allegations against the 
 \nbranch executive for leaking information to the media.\nWe the former 
 branch executives were elected into office in October 2017 with the  
 mandate from our members to restore \nRossing Uranium Branch to its former 
 glory days re-establishing union and workers’ rights in full. We were 
 faced with a number \nof challenges at Rossing Uranium and the Rossing 
 Management made it their ultimate goal to remove the recognition as the 
 \nsole bargaining agent and to nullify our Procedural (Recognition) 
 Agreement by deliberately violating it. We made it our aim to \nchallenge 
 any violations from management and in doing so the management started 
 plotting a personal vendetta against the\n leadership of the 
 branch.\nSubsequent to the suspension, they held disciplinary hearings 
 ignoring our objection that the management had no right to \nfabricate 
 charges on problems it had with the executive. They dismissed all nine of 
 us with an average of 10 years working \nat Rossing Uranium mine and 
 directly affecting our dependents and our extended families just because of 
 a selfish agenda \nwith the aim of enslaving the Rossing workers and 
 bringing back the abolished contract system that was fought by our 
 \nforefathers during the colonial and or apartheid system. \nSince the 
 majority shareholder changed, the existence of the Mine Workers Union was 
 under threat because management has \nopted to intimidate, victimise and 
 scare any member of the MUN and remove most of the rights enjoyed through 
 the freedom \nof independence.  \nWe state that the Rössing Mine 
 management’s unlawful  actions signal the end of union and workers’ 
 rights in Namibia.\nIronically enough, it is here at Rössing that the 
 union movement in Namibia started and through bloody struggles finally won 
 \nunion rights since 1978. The glory of that achievement was expressed in 
 the fact that the united working class of Namibia \nformulated their rights 
 in a constitution drafted by the Rössing workers and which established the 
 basis of the workers’ \nrights and programme since 
 then.\nNineteen-seventy-eight was the culmination of struggles of workers 
 throughout the South African colonial period which \nsaw its pinnacle in 
 the 1971/72 Great General Strike in which contract labour in all economic 
 sectors brought the country \nto a standstill. The historical significance 
 of this struggle is that they pointed the workers to the end-goal. It 
 showed \neveryone the indispensibility and the power of our class.\nThis 
 inspired the South African working class to rise up since 1973 until South 
 Africa overthrew Apartheid in 1994.\nThis was our inheritance. The actions 
 of the Rössing management are designed to destroy these accomplishments, 
 \nrights and the law expressing them. \nIt wishes to displace independent 
 unionism with puppets in the service of management. This is with what they 
 are \nbusy now.\nOur executive warns the entire Namibian working class that 
 their very rights and ability to fight against their \nerosion are at 
 stake.\nWe call on all the workers of Namibia, our brothers in NUM and 
 NUMSA in South Africa, our brothers in the union \nmovement in Africa, 
 Europe and elsewhere to join us in whichever way possible to fight to 
 preserve the little which \nremains of our union movement and in the fight 
 to restore it to the level at which we once again can call it a 
 movement.\nWe have taken this matter to the Labour Commissioner, which 
 appointed a corrupt arbitrator who openly colludes with \nthe management. 
 The Government holds 3% shares in Rössing, but has to enforce the law. 
 \nThe Labour Commissioner breaks the law.\nThe case is a mockery in that 
 the management dismissed the executive members due to a dispute it created 
 against the \nbranch executive, but the Labour Commissioner’s office 
 refuses to hear the matter as one, but as individual unfair 
 dismissals.\nThe above shall give us all an idea of what and where the 
 struggle of the Namibian working class is now.\nOur executive branch 
 undertakes to fight this matter to the end.\nKINDLY EXPRESS IN WRITING YOUR 
 SUPPORT FOR OUR STRUGGLE!\n\nNamibia: CNNC Rössing Uranium mine must 
 reinstate nine dismissed union 
 members\n\nhttp://www.industriall-union.org/namibian-union-wants-cnnc-rossing-uranium-mine-to-reinstate-nine-dismissed-union-members\n\n\n21 
 January, 2021The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) is challenging the 
 unfair dismissals of nine union leaders at Rössing Uranium mine and 
 calling for their reinstatement. The union says besides the charges being 
 spurious, due process was not followed and the disciplinary hearings that 
 took place were a shamble.\n\nThe nine members of the former branch 
 executive committee at the mine are accused of gross negligence, bringing 
 the mine owner, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Rössing Uranium, 
 into disrepute, and for breaching confidentiality.\n\nThe charges came 
 after the nine refused to accept CNNC’s proposals to amend the existing 
 collective bargaining agreement. The union says the dismissed leaders also 
 asked “uncomfortable questions” on the irregular appointment of some 
 senior managers at the mine. The managers, who were recruited from China, 
 had work permits for another company and not for Rössing.\n\nMUN says when 
 CNNC bought Rössing Uranium mine from Rio Tinto in July 2019, guarantees 
 were made that working conditions would remain the same and that existing 
 collective bargaining agreements would be respected.\n\nHowever, a few 
 months later, CNNC wanted changes in the agreement, including on leave, 
 medical aid, wages, and retrenchment provisions. After facing resistance 
 from the union and being notified of impending strike action, the company 
 instead targeted the union leadership.\n\n“These sound industrial 
 relations, built over many years with Rio Tinto, are not only guaranteed as 
 part of the asset sale to the current owners but are guaranteed in the 
 constitution of Namibia. Unfortunately, the violations reflect a disturbing 
 pattern of abuse by Chinese Investment in Africa which will not be 
 allowed,”\nsays Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director.\n\nThe matter 
 is now before the labour commissioner for arbitration and 
 conciliation.\n\nValter Sanches, IndustriALL general secretary, 
 says:\n\n“CNCC is intent on busting the union through intimidation and 
 attempting to instil fear in workers to stop them from joining the union. 
 This anti-union approach to labour relations is against the existing 
 collective bargaining agreements and threatens the cordial relations that 
 exist with the workers.\n“We urge the employer to respect the existing 
 collective agreements and to not temper with the rights of workers to 
 demand better working conditions.”\nRössing Uranium is an open pit mine 
 whose lifespan is expected to last until 2032.\n\nPhoto Credit: Conleth 
 Brady / IAEA\n\n\n\nNamibian Rössing Mine Workers Face Covid-19 & Attacks 
 From State Owned China National Uranium Corporation Limited 
 (CNUC)\nhttps://youtu.be/pHsDDqy_WPU\nThe Mineworkers Union of Namibia 
 (MUN) Rossing Branch & The Struggle of The Namibian Working 
 Class\nhttps://youtu.be/1LCD5ZuAgvc\nNamibia Rössing, union in wage 
 deadlock 
 https://www.namibian.com.na/198882/archive-read/Rössing-union-in-wage-deadlock\nChina 
 and Namibia Rössing Workers on Collision 
 Course\nhttps://www.facebook.com/informantenam/posts/3090166147716991/\nNamibia 
 MUN claims China National Nuclear Corporation is falling short of its 
 Rossing 
 promises\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nLuFIxwcIM&feature=emb_logo\nhttps://www.nbc.na/news/mun-claims-china-national-nuclear-corporation-falling-short-its-rossing-promises.29304\nNamibia 
 Rössing uranium mine union members face dismissal by Chinese 
 owners\nhttps://www.namibian.com.na/203896/archive-read/Rössing-union-members-face-dismissal\nSwapo, 
 what is 'Socialism with a Namibian 
 Character’?\nhttps://www.namibian.com.na/183845/archive-read/Letter-of-the-Week--Swapo-what-is-Socialism-with-a-Namibian-Character 
 \nNamibia says China can buy Rio's uranium stake if it respects 
 laws\nhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-rio-tinto-namibia-china/namibia-says-china-can-buy-rios-uranium-stake-if-it-respects-laws-idUSKCN1SZ0UR\n\n\n\nNamibia 
 says China can buy Rio's uranium stake if it respects 
 laws\nhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-rio-tinto-namibia-china/namibia-says-china-can-buy-rios-uranium-stake-if-it-respects-laws-idUSKCN1SZ0UR\n\n\nMAY 
 29, 20191:18 AMUPDATED 2 YEARS AGO\n\nBy Nyasha Nyaungwa\n3 MIN 
 READ\n\nWINDHOEK (Reuters) - Namibia’s mines and energy minister said he 
 has no objection to Rio Tinto’s sale of its uranium mine stake to China 
 provided it respects the African nation’s laws.\n\n\n\nA logo showing an 
 entrance to the Rio Tinto owned Rossing Uranium Mine in the Namib Desert 
 near Arandis, Namibia, February 23, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko\nRio, 
 which is seeking to divest less profitable assets, said last November that 
 it was selling its 69% stake in the world’s longest-running open pit 
 uranium mine to China for up to $106.5 million and expected the deal to be 
 completed in the first half of 2019.\n\nAsked whether the sale would be 
 cleared, Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo told Reuters: “We have no 
 objection to the sale provided that the buyer abides by what’s expected 
 of him by our laws.”\n\nChina already owns stakes in Namibian uranium 
 production, which, along with diamonds, is the mainstay of the Namibian 
 economy.\n\nAddressing concerns among Namibians that China will bring in 
 foreign nationals to replace local employees, China National Uranium 
 Corporation (CNUC) Vice President Li Youliang told a public hearing last 
 week that was not the case.\n\nThere was “no intention to replace local 
 Namibian employees with foreign nationals solely as a result of this 
 transaction,” he told the hearing in the coastal town of Swakopmund.“In 
 fact, CNUC has a strong commitment to maintain the current level of local 
 employees.”\n\nRio Tinto is selling its stake in Rossing Uranium mine to 
 CNUC in a deal dependent on approval from the Namibian competition 
 commission.\n\nThe Namibian government holds a 3% stake in Rossing and 51% 
 of voting rights. The Iranian Foreign Investment Company also holds a 
 legacy 15% stake that goes back to the original funding of the mine, which 
 could have deterred some potential buyers.\n\nThe other shareholders are 
 the Development Corporation of South Africa (10%) and individual 
 shareholders (3%).\n\nChina is targeting nuclear power as an alternative to 
 fossil fuels. It was the only obvious buyer of the shares in the Ros sing 
 mine.\n\nRossing has been operating since 1976 and has produced more 
 uranium than any other mine. It employs around 1,000 workers and can carry 
 on producing until 2025.\n\nThe sale agreement comprises an initial cash 
 payment of $6.5 million, payable at completion, and a contingent payment of 
 up to $100 million following completion.\n\nThe contingent payment is 
 linked to uranium spot prices and Roofing’s net income during the next 
 seven years.\n\nWhile China is a big source of uranium demand, the market 
 has languished as Western countries turn away from the energy source and 
 trade tensions between the United States and China are generally disrupting 
 commodities trade.\n\nStates and China are generally disrupting commodities 
 trade.\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/02/09/18839930.php
SUMMARY:Namibian Mine Workers Union Rossing Solidarity At SF Chinese Consulate
LOCATION:San Francisco Chinese Consulate\n1450 Laguna St at Geary St. San Francisco
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2021/02/09/18839930.php
DTSTART:20210213T000000Z
DTEND:20210213T010000Z
END:VEVENT
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