NUMSA Wage campaign report
- Authors: NUMSA
- Date: July 1987
- Subjects: NUMSA
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/114147 , vital:33929
- Description: ON 14th July 1987, for the first time in South African history, there was a national strike in the metal industry. About 350 factories stopped work all over the country in support of the NUMSA demand for a living wage. Metalworkers voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the national ballot that was conducted between 6th and 8th July. The strike was set for the 14th July. Workers were ready to fight SEIFSA until they won. The militancy of workers could be seen from the huge attendance at local meetings. During the week of the ballot shop stewards were gathering in huge numbers in the union offices to discuss problems and plan strategy. In the Eastern Cape a general meeting of over 400 workers was held to discuss plans.
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- Date Issued: July 1987
Political Economy - South Africa in crisis
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: July 1987
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/117195 , vital:34487
- Description: THE Central Executive Committee of COSATU took a decision in 1986 that active discussion and study of the South African economy was a priority. This decision was prompted by the very serious problems of unemployment, retrenchment, inflation and poverty that we now face. It was also prompted by an understanding that organised workers must be able to propose and fight for solutions to these problems. In addition sanctions are now becoming a reality. The need to thoroughly understand the economy is even more urgent. One of the biggest problems for any person trying to understand the South African economy is the question: Through whose eyes do we study it? We can look at the economy through the eyes of the capitalists or we can look at it through the eyes of workers. Depending on which set of eyes we use, we’ll see a very different picture. The newspapers, radio, TV and education system all look at the economy through the eyes of the capitalist. They talk of economic laws* which are efficient and benefit everyone. And when the economy goes into a recession* or into a crisis* they argue that the economic laws are being interfered with. They want people to think that the economy is something controlled by laws that workers cannot change. In this booklet on the South African economy we will look at the economy through the eyes of workers. We will see how politics and economics have combined to the benefit of the capitalists. In doing this we will undertake a study of the political economy * of South Africa. The aim of this booklet is to provide a starting point for a study of the South African political economy. We will be looking back into our history to understand the very close link between politics and economics. The purpose of such a political economy study is to allow us to better understand just how serious the present crisis is. Being clearer on this will also allow us to begin discussing the real and effective solutions to the crisis. This is important because many of the solutions being proposed at present will benefit capitalism but will lead to small changes for the mass of the people.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: July 1987
Presidential address - Second National Congress
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: July 1987
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135354 , vital:37259
- Description: Comrade delegates International and local guests Friends and compatriots I wish to welcome you to COSATU's Second National Congress This Congress is taking place at a time when the conflict between the forces trying to maintain the system and the forces of social progress is hotter then ever; when masses of our people are in a state of near permanent upsurge and when nearly everyone is now realising that the apparent iron fortress of the ruling class is breaking down. As we are meeting today, we are doing so united by the deep-seated feeling that victory is certain. Because of that, we must be clear that our Congress is an important milestone in our march towards our total freedom. With unity and clarity of purpose, we must deliberate on all the issues that are put before this Congress and take such decisions as are necessary to take the struggles of the working class in particular, and of the mass democratic movement in general, forward.
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- Date Issued: July 1987