The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal commemorated the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) 81st anniversary on 3 October.
The WFTU remains an important international organisation of the working class, committed to advancing workers’ rights, confronting exploitation, imperialism and the capitalist system that continues to deepen inequality in the world.
WFTU affiliated unions in the country embarked on various programmes of action, with COSATU in full support of the planned activities. COSATU KZN deployed its Provincial Office Bearers to participate in and lead the programmes, together with the National Office Bearers and Provincial Office Bearers of NEHAWU, who were deployed to various areas, including Pietermaritzburg, Mnambiti, Nongoma and uMlazi-Durban.
On 7 October, COSATU and its affiliates will be in various workplaces across the province as part of International Decent Work Day national programme of action. COSATU has also applied for a Section 77 strike to confront the many challenges facing workers across different sectors of the economy.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the National Day of Action will be used to mobilise workers in various workplaces and communities. Workers will be led by COSATU leadership, together with the relevant affiliate union leadership, to raise concrete workplace and sectoral demands and to ensure that the voices of workers are heard.
Workers are therefore called upon to participate actively in these protected protest demonstrations and programmes of action.
This year’s WFTU Anniversary and International Decent Work Day take place against the backdrop of an intensifying imperialist offensive which continues to subject the working class and poor in many parts of the globe to worsening socio-economic conditions.
The rising cost of food, transport and other necessities, intensified by global geopolitical conflicts and tensions caused by imperialist greed, together with neoliberal austerity measures, are placing an enormous burden on working-class households. The continued pressure being exerted on South Africa by the United States to abandon or dilute its transformative policies is also a matter of serious concern.
Both the public and private sectors continue to face serious challenges that affect workers and their livelihoods. Businesses are under severe distress, companies are closing or entering liquidation, while workers in some municipalities such as Mpendle and Zululand are experiencing delays in the payment of their salaries and third parties. These challenges are not isolated incidents; they are manifestations of deeper structural problems within our economy and public institutions.
The high levels of unemployment, retrenchments, poverty and inequality are fundamentally connected to the failure of the economy to adequately respond to the needs of the majority of our people. They are further aggravated by capitalist greed, imperialist aggression, corruption, weak governance and the failure of some government systems to effectively discharge their responsibilities.
COSATU therefore views the 7 October National Day of Action as an important opportunity to intensify the struggle for decent work, economic justice and the protection of workers’ rights.
In KwaZulu-Natal, COSATU will adopt a sector-specific approach, ensuring that the issues raised are rooted in the concrete realities experienced by workers in their respective workplaces in their sectors. Memorandums will be submitted to companies, government institutions, municipalities and other relevant employers and authorities, articulating the demands of workers and calling for concrete solutions and implementable programmes.
Workers are called upon to raise their workplace and sectoral grievances with their respective union leadership so that these issues can be properly consolidated and included in the activities of 7 October.
International struggle is also a struggle against exploitation, rights of worker and against capitalist greed. The working class must remain organised, united and militant in defending its gains and advancing the broader struggle for socio-economic transformation, the National Democratic Revolution.
An injury to one is an injury to all
Issued by COSATU KwaZulu Natal
Edwin Mkhize (Provincial Secretary)
082 399 7756 / 076 522 8839
edwin@cosatu.org.za