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Learning from Nagasaki – UNI Africa Youth visit Japan

Published: 31 August 2011
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 UNI will hold its 4th World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa in December of 2014. Bro. Thami Mzileni from Communication Workers Union KZN, South Africa (UNI Africa Youth Vice-President) made courtesy visits to Japanese Affiliates to hear about the successful experience of Nagasaki Congress and to promote South Africa. He also participated in Peace Rallies in Nagasaki.



In the morning of August 5, Bro. Thami visited Bro. Usuki, president of JPGU. “In South Africa, Unions are also concerned that postal financial services will become separated from Postal Business” said Thami. “It’s not appropriate to leave the vulnerable behind when countries develop, even if the economy is growing. In Japan, the post office supports local life by serving the community. We hope that our South African colleagues will defend their post office and post savings bank, which are the lifelines for many people” encouraged Bro. Usuki.



Bro. Thami then visited Bro. Ochiai, President of UIZensen (Chairperson of UNI-LCJapan) in the afternoon. He said “For Japanese people, August is the month to commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb. Likewise South Africans commemorate the people who lost their lives in the struggle against apartheid in August”. He also pointed out issues for the South African Labor movement in circumstances where foreign multinational companies are threatening natural resources of the country like land and mines. Bro. Ochiai said that we, the labor union movement, have to address the wave of globalization in a spirit of global solidarity.



Bro. Thami moved to Nagasaki on the 6th of August in order to attend “The 2011 JTUC-Rengo’s Nagasaki Peace Rally for the abolition of nuclear weapons in cooperation with the Japan Congress Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (GENSUIKIN), and the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (KAKKIN,)” as well as Peace Rally organized by Affiliates. He met UNI Nagasaki officers to exchange and share the success of the Congress as well. He also attended ICTJ, Labor bank, Labor insurance and JPGU peace rallies.



During the stay, He made a　courtesy visits to Mr.Taue, the mayor of Nagasaki city.

The mayor said that the 3rd UNI Nagasaki World Congress left a major mark on the city. ”Leaning from Nagasaki, we will realize outstanding Congress in South Africa” said Thami.The mayor expressed his intention to maintain cooperative ties with UNI.



On August 10th, a lecture about South African labor movement by Bro. Thami is held in Tokyo.After a brief introduction, lecture focused on the circumstances that led the people to anti-apartheid movement. Bro. Thami explained the struggle for freedom during the darkest days of racial oppression in South Africa. He also mentioned how he threw himself into the labor movement.

All participants were inspired by vitality of South African brother. One of them asked how unions showed a reaction to Walmart’s deal to take over Massmart in South Africa. Bro. Thami explained the circumstances unions are facing now. “We are concerned about the impact that would have on domestic products. Walmart must respect labor law and industrial relation in South Africa” emphasized Thami. He encouraged Japanese brothers and sisters to organize more members and keep on working in solidarity.

Finally, Bro. Thami attended another meeting and dinner organized by UNI-LCJ Finance. He had a discussion on various themes with Japanese Finance Affiliates.