Unions march against US security ruling

TERRY HUTSON
AS THIS issue went to press on Monday morning (September 27) trade unionists were planning to take to the streets of three South African port cities to register solidarity with seafarers who were prevented from leaving their ships in US ports without valid US visas.
“South Africa hasn’t endorsed what the US is doing but we know our government is considering taking a harder view. We don’t believe they have applied their minds properly to the real issues facing seafarers - there’s a general unawareness on their part of the plight of seafarers particularly those on ships flying flags of convenience,” said Zico Tamela of the South African Transport & Allied Workers Union (Satawu) in Cape Town last week.
Marches were due to target the US consulates as well as the South African departments of Foreign Affairs and Transport at Durban on Tuesday (Sept 28), Port Elizabeth on Wednesday (Sept 29) and Cape Town on Thursday September