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{{Use South African English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use South African English|date=October 2012}}


The '''Western Cape 2012 Farm Workers' Strike''' began on a farm near [[De Doorns]] on the 27th of August when a group of largely female workers walked off the job.<ref>[http://amandlapublishers.co.za/blog/1614-fire-in-the-vineyards-the-making-of-a-farm-worker-uprising-in-the-hex-river-valley Fire in the Vineyards: The Making of a Farm Worker Uprising in the Hex River Valley], by Chris Webb, ''Amandla'', 8 November 2012</ref> It then spread to other areas.<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-leaderless-farm-strike-is-organic Leaderless farm strike is 'organic'], Sean Christie, ''Mail & Guardian'', 16 November</ref> It has been described as 'organic' and organised by workers without mediation by political parties or trade unions.<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-leaderless-farm-strike-is-organic Leaderless farm strike is 'organic'], Sean Christie, ''Mail & Guardian'', 16 November</ref>
The '''Western Cape 2012 Farm Workers' Strike''' began on a farm near [[De Doorns]] on the 27th of August when a group of largely female workers walked off the job.<ref>[http://amandlapublishers.co.za/blog/1614-fire-in-the-vineyards-the-making-of-a-farm-worker-uprising-in-the-hex-river-valley Fire in the Vineyards: The Making of a Farm Worker Uprising in the Hex River Valley], by Chris Webb, ''Amandla'', 8 November 2012</ref> It then spread to other areas.<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-leaderless-farm-strike-is-organic Leaderless farm strike is 'organic'], Sean Christie, ''Mail & Guardian'', 16 November</ref> It has been described as 'organic' and organised by workers without mediation by political parties or trade unions.<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-leaderless-farm-strike-is-organic Leaderless farm strike is 'organic'], Sean Christie, ''Mail & Guardian'', 16 November</ref> The strike was finally called off on 4 December 2012.<ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-12-05-western-cape-winelands-the-strikes-over-nothings-solved Western Cape winelands: The strike's over, nothing's solved], Benjamin Fogel, ''The Daily Maverick'', 5 December 2012</ref>


According to the ''[[Mail & Guardian]]'' "the fact that the protests spread so fast after decades of ­quiescence shocked the country."<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-editorial-farm-workers-deserve-better Farm workers deserve better], ''Mail & Guardian'', Editorial'', 16 November 2012</ref>
According to the ''[[Mail & Guardian]]'' "the fact that the protests spread so fast after decades of ­quiescence shocked the country."<ref>[http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-16-00-editorial-farm-workers-deserve-better Farm workers deserve better], ''Mail & Guardian'', Editorial'', 16 November 2012</ref>
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==Role of COSATU==
==Role of COSATU==


On 14 November [[COSATU]] announced that the strike was suspended but workers continued with their strike.<ref>[http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/1491 The Farm Workers' Strike: It's Far From Over], by Anna Majavu, ''SACSIS'', 15 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-11-16-why-the-farmworkers-defied-cosatu Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu], Jared Sacks, ''Daily Maverick'' 16 November]</ref> The next day, most farmworkers remained on strike. This lead to a split between the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), which is affiliated with COSATU, and the leadership of COSATU in the Western Cape with the former opting to support the farmworkers in defying COSATU's agreement with government.<ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/26-held-over-de-doorns-strike-1.1425218#.UKau4RLJX_g Twenty Six held over De Doorns strike], ''Cape Argus' 16 November]</ref><ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-11-16-why-the-farmworkers-defied-cosatu Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu], Jared Sacks, ''Daily Maverick'' 16 November</ref>
On 14 November [[COSATU]] announced that the strike was suspended but workers continued with their strike.<ref>[http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/1491 The Farm Workers' Strike: It's Far From Over], by Anna Majavu, ''SACSIS'', 15 November 2012</ref><ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-11-16-why-the-farmworkers-defied-cosatu Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu], Jared Sacks, ''Daily Maverick'' 16 November]</ref> The next day, most farmworkers remained on strike. This lead to a split between the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), which is affiliated with COSATU, and the leadership of COSATU in the Western Cape with the former opting to support the farmworkers in defying COSATU's agreement with government.<ref>[http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/26-held-over-de-doorns-strike-1.1425218#.UKau4RLJX_g Twenty Six held over De Doorns strike], ''Cape Argus' 16 November]</ref><ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-11-16-why-the-farmworkers-defied-cosatu Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu], Jared Sacks, ''Daily Maverick'' 16 November</ref> According to the ''Daily Maverick'' Cosatu did not have a democratic mandate to call off the strike on 4 December 2010.<ref>[http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2012-12-05-western-cape-winelands-the-strikes-over-nothings-solved Western Cape winelands: The strike's over, nothing's solved], Benjamin Fogel, ''The Daily Maverick'', 5 December 2012</ref>


==Also See==
==Also See==

Revision as of 11:08, 5 December 2012

The Western Cape 2012 Farm Workers' Strike began on a farm near De Doorns on the 27th of August when a group of largely female workers walked off the job.[1] It then spread to other areas.[2] It has been described as 'organic' and organised by workers without mediation by political parties or trade unions.[3] The strike was finally called off on 4 December 2012.[4]

According to the Mail & Guardian "the fact that the protests spread so fast after decades of ­quiescence shocked the country."[5]

Forms of Protest

The strike included road blockades and burning vineyards.[6] The police reported that shops were also looted.[7]

Violence

A 28 year old man, Michael Daniels, was shot dead by the police on 14 November 2012.[8] A 40 year old man, Bongile Ndleni, was shot dead, allegedly by a private security firm, on 17 November 2012.[9]

Role of COSATU

On 14 November COSATU announced that the strike was suspended but workers continued with their strike.[10][11] The next day, most farmworkers remained on strike. This lead to a split between the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), which is affiliated with COSATU, and the leadership of COSATU in the Western Cape with the former opting to support the farmworkers in defying COSATU's agreement with government.[12][13] According to the Daily Maverick Cosatu did not have a democratic mandate to call off the strike on 4 December 2010.[14]

Also See

References

  1. ^ Fire in the Vineyards: The Making of a Farm Worker Uprising in the Hex River Valley, by Chris Webb, Amandla, 8 November 2012
  2. ^ Leaderless farm strike is 'organic', Sean Christie, Mail & Guardian, 16 November
  3. ^ Leaderless farm strike is 'organic', Sean Christie, Mail & Guardian, 16 November
  4. ^ Western Cape winelands: The strike's over, nothing's solved, Benjamin Fogel, The Daily Maverick, 5 December 2012
  5. ^ Farm workers deserve better, Mail & Guardian, Editorial, 16 November 2012
  6. ^ Western Cape protests: calmer day, thicker plot, Rebecca Davis, SACSIS, 16 November 2012
  7. ^ Farmers should decide workers' fate - Agri SA, The Citizen, 16 November 2012
  8. ^ Western Cape protests: calmer day, thicker plot, Rebecca Davis, SACSIS, 16 November 2012
  9. ^ Western Cape protests: Bloody hands in private security firms?, Rebecca Davis, Daily Maverick, 19 November 2012
  10. ^ The Farm Workers' Strike: It's Far From Over, by Anna Majavu, SACSIS, 15 November 2012
  11. ^ Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu, Jared Sacks, Daily Maverick 16 November]
  12. ^ Twenty Six held over De Doorns strike, Cape Argus' 16 November]
  13. ^ Cape winelands: Why the farmworkers defied Cosatu, Jared Sacks, Daily Maverick 16 November
  14. ^ Western Cape winelands: The strike's over, nothing's solved, Benjamin Fogel, The Daily Maverick, 5 December 2012
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