The Congress of South African Trade Unions in KwaZulu-Natal (COSATU KZN) extends its sincere appreciation to all workers, our members, the masses of our people, leadership of our Affiliates, and our Alliance partners for their overwhelming support and participation in the 2026 May Day Celebration Rally. The massive turnout and militant spirit demonstrated at the rally reaffirm the enduring strength, unity, and consciousness of the working class in our province.

May Day is not, and must never be reduced to, an ordinary public holiday. It is a historic day born out of struggle, sacrifice, and bloodshed by generations of workers who fought for dignity, fair labour standards, and social justice. We carry a responsibility to defend and advance these hard-won gains. To honour the heroes and heroines of our movement, we must continuously deepen our revolutionary consciousness and advance the National Democratic Revolution.

The success of this year’s May Day Rally did not happen in isolation. It is the product of sustained organisational work and mass mobilisation undertaken by COSATU and its Affiliates across the province over recent months. As part of our build-up programme, we convened Local Shop Stewards Councils and Clustered Shop Stewards Councils to strengthen workplace organisation and worker unity. We intensified workplace visits and led a Listening Campaign to directly engage workers on their lived realities, challenges, and expectations.

We engaged key institutions such as the CCMA to strengthen worker protection mechanisms and actively participated in initiatives aimed at skills development and up-skilling through the Human Resource Development Council. COSATU KZN also played a leading role in interventions to address retrenchments, unemployment, and economic stagnation, including our participation in the recent KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Job Summit.

In defence of workers, we led and supported pickets and demonstrations against exploitation and injustice, including struggles of unpaid municipal workers in iMpendle Municipality, opposition to increases in GEMS medical aid contributions, and resistance against unfair aspects of the tax regime administered by SARS. These actions affirm that COSATU remains a fighting federation, rooted in the daily struggles of workers.

As we enter Workers’ Month, our programme intensifies. We send a clear and uncompromising message to employers: respect workers’ rights, comply with labour laws, and end all forms of exploitation. The levels of non-compliance with key legislation such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act, Skills Development Act (SDA), and immigration regulations are unacceptable.

COSATU KZN, together with its Affiliates, Locals and relevant stakeholders, will roll out a programme of unannounced workplace visits and inspections to confront these violations. We will not hesitate to meet exploitative employers at their doorsteps. Workers cannot continue to be subjected to unsafe conditions, unfair labour practices, and blatant disregard for the law.

We further call upon all workers to exercise and defend their right to organise and join trade unions. Unionisation remains one of the most effective tools to protect workers against exploitation. Evidence consistently shows that conditions of work, wages, and protections are significantly better in unionised workplaces. No worker should ever be forced to choose between employment and their constitutional right to union membership. COSATU will defend this right without compromise.

We also take this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the participation of government leaders and public representatives who emerged from the very struggles of the working class. Their presence reflects a continued connection to the historic mission of advancing workers’ interests. We commend our Alliance partners, the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), and all formations of the Mass Democratic Movement, for their role in mobilising and supporting this year’s May Day activities.

The unity of the Alliance remains a critical pillar in advancing the struggle of the working class and driving forward a transformative socio-economic agenda.

As COSATU KZN, we call upon all our structures, Affiliates, and members to actively participate in the programmes of Workers’ Month. This is not a ceremonial period, but a month of intensified struggle, organisation, and mobilisation. Together, we must build stronger unions, defend workers’ rights, and advance the struggle for a just, equitable, and inclusive society.

The struggle continues.

Issued by COSATU KwaZulu Natal

For Enquiries: Edwin Mkhize

082 399 7756 / 076 522 8839

edwin@cosatu.org.za