Grooms strike? Press statement

Some excellent posts (kalahari, wiseowl, curlin, pirho) - but some real drivel (not ALL the rest)

It is a complex issue needing an inspired solution - not sure if we have enough inspired people to take this further :

Curlin ,

Great post , 1 BIG problem ,

2. Government: must lead from the front, It will NEVER happen .

We ( those willing to change ) must take their hand and lead the way .

The meeting between Grooms and NHA is off for tomorrow- apparently, NHA was not aware of it !!!!!

@Hibs:

Apparently the CEO was or is due to go on leave today!

Simoto has asked that the Clan be told how upset he is and is considering not to ever engage with talks with all of the NHA and the National Gambling Board again!

He came over (at his own expense) by road (bus) from W Cape and is paying his own lodging costs. He has no income.

He is meeting with the NGB (who called for and arranged the meeting after being approached by the NHA) this morning before leaving for Cape Town. On Saturday morning, there were grooms ready to go on strike and Simoto addressed them not to do so.

He says that Min. Dr Davies personally instructed the NGB to hold this meeting.

Simoto thanks and appreciates posters for their support and positive input regarding the plight of grooms in the industry.

I was under the impression that the gambling board had been dismissed ?
A new board still had to be appointed, and things were in limbo?
Can anyone confirm

@Scotia:

'I was under the impression that the gambling board had been dismissed ?'

that was the Gauteng Gambling Board.

Apparently, fall-out with the former MEC about re-locating into Jhb which is more logical and accessible.

Resolved now, I think and new board appliactions were advertised late last year - I missed the clisng date!

If this is the case then the NHA as an organisation is a disgrace. How can any stake holder not be willing to meet, whether you know or not, about such an important issue???? Where does this situation actually rate in importance for the NHA???

When you dont talk people act, when people act then you want to talk.............

i think the time is come to call the spade the spade. it is my opinion that the groom are being used as the pawn between phindi/jayes/ who ever. this guy simoto is clearly the head of a groom organisation that enjoys the very lttle support in gauteng. i dont now what is the support in the west cape or other area. i can say for sure up here by vaal the grooms dont now of him in fact they see him as some one who want to take money from them. i speak to the head groom of a big stable and he tell me that after making lots of money promise in his letter, nothing happen. like any thing in this world every one has the right to decide what they do with there lifes, no one is force any one to work for a stable. i no say grooms must be abuse but i do say if they dont like to work for a trainer they can move to another job or another stable. this non sense the rich owners must be responsible for paying grooms is a lot of shit. the groom gets presents if horse do well. i think it is time to call the bluff this man has no support.

@FH:

'groom are being used as the pawn between phindi/jayes/ who ever. '

It is such arrogant attitudes that make us all so suspicious and distrustful of one another. Similarly, P is also using some trainers and some trainers are using grooms, etc.... where does it stop?

Why can't we be sensitive and caring? Can you accept that grooms remain perpetually uneducated so that they are exploited by owners and trainers for the benefit of P shareholders, owners, trainers and even punters?

That they must be thankful they have a job?

I always credit fellow humans with a sod of humanity and am amazed when they treat their animals better (not that they shouldn't)!

As I said before, I think this is a complex issue.

The crux of this seems to be the question of who is responsible (if anyone) for seeing to it that the grooms do not get exploited. So they probably need a union - but from Flash's post it would seem that there is in-fighting amongst them; so maybe every region needs it own 'representative' - but whose task is it to get this up and running? Imo the grooms should take responsibility for their own plight?

The fact that Mr Jayes's name is mentioned in the original letter, indicates to me that there may some games being played here.

Of course we want the grooms to be better educated and not exploited, but I don't believe any owner (or punter) can be held responsible for educating the grooms (just like bank customers are not responsible for educating the employees of the bank). And as I understand it, efforts have been made (e.g. the school in Cape Town initiated by John Freeman I believe), but the impression is that most grooms just are not interested in 'educating' themselves.

I agree with Flash, being a groom is a job, if you don't like it, find another job.

Should they be paid more? Probably (but so say the miners, the 'farm workers', the teachers, the nurses etc) And as with all things in life, the 'better' ones stick to their employers and move up the ladder to 'head boy', etc. It is an unfortunate fact of life that if you work for an employer, you get paid in relation to your 'worth' to the employer.

Just my opinion.

umlilo there is enough owners all ready leave this game your sugestion will make many more join them then what do the groom do? no owner no horse no job.

Has Phindi had anything to do with this strike?