While Swazi workers celebrate the merger of a number of unions into one giant, a neighbouring South African giant, Cosatu will hold its 8th National Congress from September 15-18, 2003.
As Numsa regions begin to discuss what Numsa should put as resolutions to the Congress, Rolly Xipu spoke to two shop stewards for their views on what the Congress should cover. Mongameli Mthembu, shop steward at Flatten Bright Steel in Springs believes that the congress must touch on organisational issues.
"Local meetings, especially local shop steward councils are poorly attended by Cosatu affiliates," he says. He wonders whether there should be full time personnel and resources at local level to co-ordinate and revive the structures of Cosatu. This he says is in line with the National Local Summit that was held last year. Mike Mazibuko, Baldwins Steel shop steward in Isando agrees.
"The 10 shop stewards per affiliate as representatives to the Local Shop Steward Council is not working. And Congress must also force affiliates to co-operate with the proposal for the release of Cosatu local office bearers for Cosatu work," he says.
Mthembu believes that strong action should be taken against those affiliates who fail to pay affiliation fees without a good reason. "Cosatu should discuss the need for joint rallies with government and the acceptance of financial aid from government," he says.
"For example at the recent May Day rallies, buses were paid for by government. We feel it makes Cosatu look as if it is not independent from the state."
He feels that the political resolution on the Alliance should be reviewed once again and that Congress should "discuss the Ceppwawu crisis on this issue with a view of educating our members in general." Mazibuko is concerned about internal public fights within the Alliance ,
"ANC comrades who are in government are seen as being anti-Cosatu with regard to Cosatu anti-privatisation and the HIV/Aids campaign. Cosatu Congress needs to come up with some resolution on this." Although acknowledging progress made with regard to labour legislation, Mthembu believes that the Congress should also "look into the right to strike against unfair dismissal of shop stewards who are victimised for fighting for the rights of workers. And it must put in place ways to ensure that the Skills Development Act and the Employment Equity Act are implemented to advance the transformation agenda."
Mazibuko is also concerned about micro-lenders. "Cosatu must discuss ways of ensuring that workers are not exploited by them as they fail to follow set down regulations."
Source
Numsa News