COSATU Just Transition Global South Exchange – 16 September 2024 Comrades, distinguished delegates, friends in the labour movement, andrepresentatives of governments and civil society, I greet you today with a sense ofpurpose and commitment to the work ahead.We are gathered here not only as the trade union movement, but as champions ofjustice, as representatives of […]
COSATU Gauteng condemns non-compliance in the hospitality sector
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Gauteng expresses deep concern and condemnation over non-compliance by the employer and owner of Babel Restaurant in Menlyn, Tshwane. This matter was brought to our attention by the video circulated on the social media platforms, where an employee raised challenges they were facing at the restaurant. This […]
COSATU hosts Global South Exchange to formulate climate change response
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is hosting the Just Transition Global South Exchange from 16 to 18 September, bringing together trade unions, civil society and government representatives primarily from Africa and the Global South to deliberate on and formulate a Global South stance on climate change. Climate change and what to do […]
Welcome by COSATU General Secretary to participants at the Global South Exchange from 16 – 18 September 2024
Comrades, fellow trade unionists, fellow activists It is with great honour and revolutionary zeal that I stand before you today as the General Secretary of COSATU to welcome you to this historic event – the Global South Exchange. We gather here, with more than 130 participants from 17 countries, united in our purpose to defend […]
COSATU welcomes the expulsion from Parliament of the notorious hate speech peddler, Renaldo Gouws
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the overdue expulsion from Parliament and the Democratic Alliance (DA), of the notorious hate speech peddler, Renaldo Gouws. Cheerleaders for racial violence must have no space in Parliament in a democratic South Africa. Ordinary citizens who still bear the deep emotional and lived economic scars of […]
COSATU notes President Ramaphosa’s partial signing of the BELA Bill
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes with disappointment President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to delay the implementation of two clauses of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill despite signing it into law. This is an about turn that COSATU could not have foreseen given President Ramaphosa came out of his own accord […]
NEHAWU KZN STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF KZN FORENSIC PATHOLOGY SERVICES
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in KwaZulu-Natal is vindicated and absolved by eNCA’s CheckPoint episode that appeared on the 11th September 2024 exposing the state of government mortuaries in KwaZulu-Natal. The union is not shocked by the expose’ on the state of forensic pathology services because it confirms what we have been […]
NORTHERN CAPE ALLIANCE POLITICAL COUNCIL STATEMENT
The Northern Cape Alliance consisting of the African National Congress (ANC), South African Communist Party (SACP), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), convened its Alliance Political Council on the 09th of September 2024. The meeting received inputs from leaders of all alliance partners, who reflected on […]
COSATU mourns the passing of comrade Pravin Gordhan
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) mourns the passing of comrade Pravin Gordhan. Former Minister Gordhan has run his race. He has served the nation and the mass democratic movement with distinction. We remain in debt to comrade PG and the Gordhan family for his selfless sacrifices. Comrade PG’s life was dedicated to […]
COSATU relieved Steenhuisen has asked Cabanac to step down
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes Minister for Agriculture, Mr. John Steenhuisen, ceding to COSATU and society’s outcry over the ill-considered appointment of Mr. Roman Cabanac, with his announcement of his Chief of Staff’s departure. It was clear to anyone with sense that Mr. Cabanac was woefully unqualified for such a senior […]
COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange meeting
The Congress of South African Trade Unions(COSATU) invites members of the media to attend the first and last day of the Just Transition Global South Exchange meeting, which will take place from 16 September – 18 September 2024. The three-day event will bring together unions, civil society, and government representatives from the Global South to discuss a […]
COSATU welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to assent to the BELA Bill
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to assent to the long debated Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. The BELA Bill contains many common sense and long-overdue progressive provisions that will help to protect the rights of learners to dignity and protection. It is a tragedy that in […]
COSATU condemns the harassment of Nigerian Labour Congress President by State Security
COSATU joins the international trade union movement in condemning the consistent harassment and persecution of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. This Monday, 8 September, Ajaero was on his way to attend the British Trade Union Congress (TUC) Conference in London, when state security operatives arrested him at the International Airport in Abuja. This […]
COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange meeting
The Congress of South African Trade Unions(COSATU) invites members of the media to attend the first and last day of the Just Transition Global South Exchange meeting, which will take place from 16 September – 18 September 2024. The three-day event will bring together unions, civil society, and government representatives from the Global South to discuss a […]
NEHAWU KZN CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE DUT VICE-CHANCELLOR
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in KwaZulu-Natal calls for the immediate removal of the autocratic and rogue vice chancellor of the Durban University of Technology. The union has written numerous letters to the Chairperson of Council raising our concerns about the state of the University, inability of the council to provide oversight […]
COSATU welcomes excellent progress in rolling out the long sought Two Pot Pension Reforms
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes excellent progress in rolling out the long sought Two Pot Pension Reforms since 1 September. We have been heartened by the response of workers to this long-sought reform with thousands submitting their applications for immediate relief from their pension and provident funds. These pension reforms are […]
COSATU to meet families of 11 presumed drowned fishermen
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) General Secretary, Solly Phetoe, is set to meet with the families of the 11 fishermen who drowned onboard a fishing vessel while on duty off the coast of Hout Bay in May 2024. The nine fishermen who were also onboard the MVF Lepanto when it sank, but […]
COSATU Affiliate SAMWU looks to the Constitutional Court to rule on Municipal Systems Amendment Act
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) along with its Affiliate, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU), trust that the Constitutional Court will confirm the unconstitutionality of the Municipal Systems Amendment Act when it hears the case on Tuesday, 10 September. The Constitutional Court will hear arguments on this matter. This follows the […]
COSATU stands in solidarity with SACCAWU as it heads to court in defence of 600 Massmart jobs
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) fully supports its indomitable Affiliate, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), as it heads to court to challenge the dismissal of nearly 600 workers by Walmart-owned Massmart. SACCAWU is taking the fight to court after prolonged engagements to reinstate 600 dismissed workers at […]
COSATU DISAPOINTED IN RUGBY BLACK OUT FOR MOST SOUTH AFRICANS
COSATU notes with concern that the rugby game between the Springboks and New Zealand will not be shown to all South Africans this Saturday, 7 September 2024. This is a sad day for working class families and a sad indictment to the Government of National Unity. This represents a failure of public policy to respond […]
COSATU is deeply dismayed by the Parliamentary rascals’ sequel
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply dismayed by the Parliamentary rascals’ sequel. Three months into the 7th Parliament, the nation has been made to watch various shenanigans and skulduggery by some less than illustrious Members of Parliament. Just under three months ago, the Democratic Alliance (DA) promised swift action when one […]
SAMWU SECURES A 6% SALARY AND WAGE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL WORKERS
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of long and rigorous salary and wage negotiations with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), which represents the country’s 257 municipalities and their entities in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). After three intense rounds of negotiations, […]
Organised Labour Input: Nedlac Annual Summit
COSATU General Secretary Solly Phetoe Programme Director, The Executive Director of Nedlac, Lisa Seftel, Leadership of Government, Business, Labour, Community, 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of our young democracy. It is appropriate as we gather here today, that we have concluded as social partners and government at Nedlac a 30-year review of our achievements and […]