The press release says Steelworkers district 31 director Jack Parton, auto workers region 4 director Bill Stewart and Johnnie Jackson, president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women/Chicago, today joined in a chorus of congratulations from unions around the world to South African metalworkers' leader Moses Mayekiso; today all charges against the SA trade unionist and his co-accused were dropped by the trial judge. The press release says Moses Mayekiso is General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), the nation's second largest union and an affiliate of COSATU, the largest labor federation; NUMSA is a sister union to the auto, steel, sheet metal, machinist...
The press release says Steelworkers district 31 director Jack Parton, auto workers region 4 director Bill Stewart and Johnnie Jackson, president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women/Chicago, today joined in a chorus of congratulations from unions around the world to South African metalworkers' leader Moses Mayekiso; today all charges against the SA trade unionist and his co-accused were dropped by the trial judge. The press release says Moses Mayekiso is General Secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), the nation's second largest union and an affiliate of COSATU, the largest labor federation; NUMSA is a sister union to the auto, steel, sheet metal, machinist and electrical unions in the U.S. The press release says Mayekiso has been on trial since Oct. 1987 charged by the SA government with treason, sedition and subversion; he served one year in jail before being charged; Mayekiso was let out on bond in Dec. 1988, after nearly 3 years in prison, while his trial continued. The press release says unions in South Africa and throughout the world waged an extensive campaign to free Mayekiso; the lengthy trial was seen by many as part of the apartheid government's crackdown on South African trade unions; the auto workers and others sent observers to SA to monitor the trial; mews of the charges being dropped were received in Chicago from John Hudson, an official of the clothing and textile workers union who is now in South Africa as a trial observer. The press release says on April 5, Kola Mayekiso, wife of Moses, visited Chicago with a plea for continuing the pressure to free her husband; Kola's Chicago visit was hosted by the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid. The press release says the Labor Network called on unions and consumers to support freedom in South Africa by boycotting Shell Oil and supporting sanctions against South Africa; the Labor Network will sponsor a Rally to push for sanctions on Saturday, June 17, 1:00 at the Hayes Labor and Community Center. The press release says chief sponsors of Comprehensive Sanctions are Sen. Paul Simon in the Senate and Rep. Ronald Dellums in the House. Postcards asking the Senate for sanctions, leaflets for the June 17 Rally, and information on the Shell Boycott are available through the Labor Network. The press release says for further information contact Kathy Devine. The press releases discusses the UAW (United Auto Workers), the United Steelworkers of America, the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), and COSATU (Coalition of South African Trade Unions).
