Cosatu Congress Special: Views from inside

The workers’ parliament opensDoris Nqetho

Almost 3000 delegates from different affiliates representing about 2 million members are gathered at Gallagher Estate for Cosatu’s 10th National Congress.Congress’ task is to decide on matters affecting the working class and society at large.

On approaching the convention centre, delegates in red and black shirts with red flags flying together sang revolutionary songs.From the songs, the message was clear – they wanted the senior leadership to hear their cries since the working class is facing a high rate of retrenchments.

The chairperson of the session, Salome Sithole, Sadtu’s vice president, asked delegates to sit down and wait for the country’s president. As the president arrived, delegates blew whistles and sang loudly.

The Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) presented him with a specially baked cake in lime and white to celebrate the hard-won elections race. In his address, Jacob Zuma appreciated Cosatu’s powerful voice and the role played by the alliance in negotiating wages and rights for domestic workers.

On education he talked of the research done that shows that in multi-racial schools, teachers teach for six and a half hours while in rural schools time taught is just three and a half hours – “there is still a lot to be done in our schools,” he said.

Congress thrill!

Joseph Molusi

What an experience! When you thought what congress was supposed to be like, based on your previous experience, now you have to make an adjustment due to the new things that you are getting exposed to.

Every aspect pertaining to the congress process and procedures from the local level to the regional congress, provincial and the national congress, is a learning experience.

Everything is thrilling and eye opening at the same time.Seeing how a resolution gets shaped as it goes from the local level through to the regional congress is enlightening.It’s where one gets the feeling that for each and every problem that we are experiencing in our community, it can be resolved in a polite and amicable way.

One also gets the feeling that all the community leadership must be part and parcel of these events. Maybe this can lessen the rate of sporadic protests that we are presently experiencing.Let’s turn back to the business of the week which is the parliament of the workers.

Every process is so exciting that you end up having no choice but to relax and enjoy it.The songs, speeches and comments are stimulating.

The most exciting thing is how workers from different backgrounds, cultures, religion and languages can just come together and debate the issues pertaining to their livelihood and find common ground after persuasion and some compromises here and there. It’s unbelievable how more than 2000 workers can sing one song at the same time.

Then you get the sense that ‘together we can do more’!We are heading towards the most encouraging processes of this gathering of the parliament of workers – so watch this space!

Ngelama nqamu

Today you can feel that the people are reconciled to their originsPeople are reminded to appreciate and love themselves and their countryThe fear of being true patriots is overPowerful speeches are rendered by men of valourStalwarts, ever committed to serving their countryTrue South Africans who are able to prove it by the scars inTheir spirits and past where families were brutally affectedProtective parents to the innumerable South AfricansTirelessly knocking on closed doors of timid and unsure comrades’ hearts Power to the peopleToday, all fear is gonePoor, troubled orphans and widows are no moreThe people, the federation, has done it once moreProphecy it, tell it to the maimed, rejected soldiers, say:“An injury to one is an injury to all!”

Gladys Maziya

Moving closer to the unity of the working class

John Manana, Peter Thobejane and Nkhangweni Masutha

Cosatu made history on day 2. For the first time since Cosatu was launched, the president of a rival federation, Joseph Maqhekeni, of Sacotu, came to address the congress. Sacotu brings together independent federations, Nactu and Fedusa.His message was very clear – he wanted to see workers of the country forging unity and ultimately forming one federation.

This was welcomed by the congress.He touched on the issues that are affecting workers on a daily basis such as labour brokers and casualisation and agreed that there should be a total ban on labour brokers as they undermine the country’s constitution and collective bargaining agreements.

He also touched on the following strategic points which reflect strides made by Cosatu in the context of class struggles.He acknowledged the role played by Cosatu in pursuing workers’ rights in terms of freedom of association, which includes among other rights, the right to strike and form unions.

He remarked on the politically motivated protest by soldiers’ union due to grievances over their conditions of employment. He said that there was a dire need to locate the soldiers’ trade union within the parameters of the LRA instead of the National Defence Bill as stipulated in the constitution of South Africa.He also praised Cosatu’s contribution in setas and collective bargaining institutions as it was strategically advancing workers’ interests.

However he cautioned delegates that some affiliates are not participating in the development of workplace skills plans. Failure to do this was compromising our struggle to benefit to our members.

The federation’s intervention in the alliance structures was helping to drive social transformation and assist the communities on issues such as electricity, proper sanitation, illegal evictions.

He said that trade unions should exploit the following strategic goals of the federation ie the realization of one union, one industry, one federation one country.

The emergence of a new spirit amongst alliance partners should be exploited in pursuit of the goals stipulated in the ANC manifesto and to translate these fundaments into reality so as to change the material conditions of South Africans especially the working class and the poor.

He concluded his address by emphasizing the slogan – “one country, one federation’.

Note: Nactu is also strongly in support of the call to ban labour brokers.

Businesses sponsor CosatuPinky Ramokoka

Businesses donated generously to the Cosatu 10th National congress such that the Federation only used a little of its money for a four day gathering.

Among the conference’s sponsors were mining mogul, Patrice Motsepe, president Jacob Zuma’s funder and Durban businessman Mabheleni Ntuli. Motsepe’s company, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), was the second biggest contributor to the conference although Vavi did not say how much the company had donated.

“We hardly touched the congress funds because of all the generosity. Kopano Ke Matla (Cosatu Investment Company) was the biggest sponsor. They put in R5,5 million in support of the conference,” revealed Vavi.

Other sponsors were Metropolitan, Sanlam, Vodacom and Bosele investment. “Thank you very much for coming to the party,” said Vavi in honour of the sponsors and the congress invitees.

Source

Numsa News