The union that never strikes anything other than tikkun olam

SUZANNE BELLING

She referred to the myriad work carried out by the Union since its inception 86 years ago, paying tribute to the founder, Toni Saphra, “who understood only too well the need in South Africa, not only for giving food and shelter, but for teaching people to use a fishing rod to enable them to catch their own fish and thereby become self-sustaining.

Lynne Raphaely, outgoing national president, said this was a union where the members never went on strike. She announced that for the first time in the organisation’s 86-year history, she would be succeeded by a national president from outside Johannesburg – Myra Goldenbaum from Cape Town.

Myra is the first working president, who is CEO of her own company. She has been a member of the UJW for 43 years, starting her career at age 23 as a commercial artist. She was commissioned to arrange the De Beers centenary celebrations.

Special awards for 50 years of “active and dedicated service” to the UJW were presented to Sylvia Heyman, Phyllis Seligman, Elaine Gavshon and Shirley Ancer.

Guests of honour included the Israeli Ambassador Lior Keinan; popular and outspoken former ANC member of parliament Makhosi Khoza and UJW honorary life president, Mina Sable.