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Cosatu regional congress - Defend, consolidate and advance social transformation
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1991-07
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/106403 , vital:32648
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1991-07
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/106403 , vital:32648
- Full Text:
Cosatu Living Wage Conference towards a socio-economic programme
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1990-06
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/105167 , vital:32471
- Description: There is now wide agreement that Cosatu should formulate a socio-economic programme to co-ordinate its present campaigns and collective bargaining and to influence the structure of the future economy. Our success in a Living Wage Campaign depends on the restructuring of the economy so that it can meet the needs and aspirations of the majority of our people.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1990-06
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/105167 , vital:32471
- Description: There is now wide agreement that Cosatu should formulate a socio-economic programme to co-ordinate its present campaigns and collective bargaining and to influence the structure of the future economy. Our success in a Living Wage Campaign depends on the restructuring of the economy so that it can meet the needs and aspirations of the majority of our people.
- Full Text:
News Congress
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135304 , vital:37256
- Description: Impelasonto kaNovember 29 kuya kuDecember 1 yabona ukuphakanyiswa kwefederation yezinyunyana zabasebenzi bezimboni enkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni wabasebenzi baseSouth Africa. ICongress of South African Trade Unions inamalunga akhokha kahle awu-449679 kuzo zonke izimboni ezisemqoka kulelizwe ngaphandle kwemboni yezolimo. Kodwa kulesikhashana esizayo izogqugquzelwa nemboni yezolimo, njengoba uCOSATU athatha isinqumo ekugcotshweni kweCongress sokwelekelela ngezimali ekuququzeleni izimboni zezolimo lezikahulumeni.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: Xhosa
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135304 , vital:37256
- Description: Impelasonto kaNovember 29 kuya kuDecember 1 yabona ukuphakanyiswa kwefederation yezinyunyana zabasebenzi bezimboni enkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni wabasebenzi baseSouth Africa. ICongress of South African Trade Unions inamalunga akhokha kahle awu-449679 kuzo zonke izimboni ezisemqoka kulelizwe ngaphandle kwemboni yezolimo. Kodwa kulesikhashana esizayo izogqugquzelwa nemboni yezolimo, njengoba uCOSATU athatha isinqumo ekugcotshweni kweCongress sokwelekelela ngezimali ekuququzeleni izimboni zezolimo lezikahulumeni.
- Full Text:
6th National Congress Resolutions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113189 , vital:33728
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113189 , vital:33728
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
Information Digest issue 8
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/119167 , vital:34708
- Description: More than two years of worker struggle, mass action and negotiations resulted last Thursday 14th February in the scrapping of ^ the 1988 amendments to the Labour Relations Act. The State President has to sign the new Act within ten days of it being passed by parliament. Some of the most important changes contained in the new LRA are: The 1988 definition of the "unfair labour practice" is gone, removing strikes and lockouts from this definition. It will now be easier to use the Conciliation Boards and the Industrial Court to help resolve disputes. It will no longer be presumed that a union 0 is responsible for an illegal strike of its members. An employer can’t interdict a strike without giving 48 hours notice or, if shorter notice is given, without informing the union. Unions with public and private sector members can now register. COSATU will be organising regional workshops for organisers to look at the implications of the Act, and how to apply the new provisions.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/119167 , vital:34708
- Description: More than two years of worker struggle, mass action and negotiations resulted last Thursday 14th February in the scrapping of ^ the 1988 amendments to the Labour Relations Act. The State President has to sign the new Act within ten days of it being passed by parliament. Some of the most important changes contained in the new LRA are: The 1988 definition of the "unfair labour practice" is gone, removing strikes and lockouts from this definition. It will now be easier to use the Conciliation Boards and the Industrial Court to help resolve disputes. It will no longer be presumed that a union 0 is responsible for an illegal strike of its members. An employer can’t interdict a strike without giving 48 hours notice or, if shorter notice is given, without informing the union. Unions with public and private sector members can now register. COSATU will be organising regional workshops for organisers to look at the implications of the Act, and how to apply the new provisions.
- Full Text:
6th National Congress Resolutions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115881 , vital:34250
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115881 , vital:34250
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
COSATU Executive committee press statement - 20 AUGUST 1998
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Aug 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109688 , vital:33169
- Description: The Executive Committee met in its normal session on 18 - 19 August 1998. It received reports on a range of socio-economic and political issues. As is always the case, discussions were conducted in a true tradition of the federation - comradeship, frankness, robust and constructive. A number of decisions were taken by the meeting, some of which are contained in this statement. The meeting received a report on meetings held with Old Mutual and Sanlam respectively. The meeting reaffirmed COSATU’s opposition to demutualisation on political and economic grounds and regretted the fact that the portfolio committee had gone ahead to finalise the bills dealing with demutualisation inspite of being informed about discussions currently taking place with the two mutual companies. We remain of the view that it would help the parliamentary process had this process been allowed to proceed to its final conclusion.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Aug 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109688 , vital:33169
- Description: The Executive Committee met in its normal session on 18 - 19 August 1998. It received reports on a range of socio-economic and political issues. As is always the case, discussions were conducted in a true tradition of the federation - comradeship, frankness, robust and constructive. A number of decisions were taken by the meeting, some of which are contained in this statement. The meeting received a report on meetings held with Old Mutual and Sanlam respectively. The meeting reaffirmed COSATU’s opposition to demutualisation on political and economic grounds and regretted the fact that the portfolio committee had gone ahead to finalise the bills dealing with demutualisation inspite of being informed about discussions currently taking place with the two mutual companies. We remain of the view that it would help the parliamentary process had this process been allowed to proceed to its final conclusion.
- Full Text:
Negotiations Bulletin - The story of our taxes
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: April 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137556 , vital:37537
- Description: IN SOUTH AFRICA two kinds of taxes are imposed by the tax authorities, namely direct and indirect taxes. Direct taxes are those that are levied directly on the income and wealth of companies and individuals. Examples of direct taxes are personal income taxes paid by salaried employees and taxation paid on company profits. Indirect taxes are those taxes levied not directly on income earned, but on certain transactions. Examples of indirect taxes are value added taxation, customs and excise duties and transfer duties. The power to levy taxation rests with the central government. It is thus government’s responsibility to ensure that a taxation structure and balance is achieved that would not only meet its budget requirements but also be fair and acceptable to its constituents.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: April 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137556 , vital:37537
- Description: IN SOUTH AFRICA two kinds of taxes are imposed by the tax authorities, namely direct and indirect taxes. Direct taxes are those that are levied directly on the income and wealth of companies and individuals. Examples of direct taxes are personal income taxes paid by salaried employees and taxation paid on company profits. Indirect taxes are those taxes levied not directly on income earned, but on certain transactions. Examples of indirect taxes are value added taxation, customs and excise duties and transfer duties. The power to levy taxation rests with the central government. It is thus government’s responsibility to ensure that a taxation structure and balance is achieved that would not only meet its budget requirements but also be fair and acceptable to its constituents.
- Full Text:
Statement on employment Equity Bill and the Apartheid Wage gap
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Aug 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109791 , vital:33189
- Description: The Portfolio Committee on Labour considered amendments to the Employment Equity Bill which were tabled in parliament by the Department of Labour today. Amongst these were amendments in response to COSATU's proposals for closing the apartheid wage gap. COSATU has serious reservations, however, about the tabled amendments on this issue, and believes that the amendments proposed today by the ANC should be supported as they address these defects. Finalisation of the clauses relating to the wage gap has been postponed to next week, when the Bill will be voted on by the Committee. COSATU has consistently maintained the view, both in our submissions to the committee last month, and at NEDLAC, that the Employment Equity Bill must address the issue of the apartheid wage gap, if it is to have meaning for the millions of ordinary workers, who are the worst victims of apartheid discrimination, and who will not be able to reach the upper echelons of the workforce, despite the affirmative action provisions of the legislation. We have supported the philosophy of the legislation that employment equity must benefit everybody, and not just an elite few. We have taken the view that the legislation must address the critical legacy of massive income inequalities, which was a deliberate policy under apartheid, in order to make this philosophical approach a reality, and that in this respect the Draft Bill was seriously defective. We proposed a series of concrete amendments to remedy this defect, within the broad philosophical approach and architecture of the Bill. We also proposed an integrated strategy to address these differentials, which combines measures in the Employment Equity legislation with other legislation and processes. A number of organisations have supported us in this view. Further a concept document tabled by the Department of Labour in the parliamentary committee broadly endorsed this approach.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Aug 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109791 , vital:33189
- Description: The Portfolio Committee on Labour considered amendments to the Employment Equity Bill which were tabled in parliament by the Department of Labour today. Amongst these were amendments in response to COSATU's proposals for closing the apartheid wage gap. COSATU has serious reservations, however, about the tabled amendments on this issue, and believes that the amendments proposed today by the ANC should be supported as they address these defects. Finalisation of the clauses relating to the wage gap has been postponed to next week, when the Bill will be voted on by the Committee. COSATU has consistently maintained the view, both in our submissions to the committee last month, and at NEDLAC, that the Employment Equity Bill must address the issue of the apartheid wage gap, if it is to have meaning for the millions of ordinary workers, who are the worst victims of apartheid discrimination, and who will not be able to reach the upper echelons of the workforce, despite the affirmative action provisions of the legislation. We have supported the philosophy of the legislation that employment equity must benefit everybody, and not just an elite few. We have taken the view that the legislation must address the critical legacy of massive income inequalities, which was a deliberate policy under apartheid, in order to make this philosophical approach a reality, and that in this respect the Draft Bill was seriously defective. We proposed a series of concrete amendments to remedy this defect, within the broad philosophical approach and architecture of the Bill. We also proposed an integrated strategy to address these differentials, which combines measures in the Employment Equity legislation with other legislation and processes. A number of organisations have supported us in this view. Further a concept document tabled by the Department of Labour in the parliamentary committee broadly endorsed this approach.
- Full Text:
6th National Congress Resolutions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118547 , vital:34644
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118547 , vital:34644
- Description: COSATU must intervene in affiliates where it has identified problems, where problems have been brought to its attention and / or has been requested to do so. The CEC should draw guidelines on how and under which circumstances the federation and its structures may intervene taking into account clauses 3.9 and 3.10 of the constitution. Such intervention should not undermine affiliates where such problems exist. COSATU leadership must be visible during major disputes between affiliates and employers and co-ordinate solidarity with workers involved in such disputes.
- Full Text:
Focus on the labour realtions bill and Nedlac
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/136452 , vital:37380
- Description: The year has hardly begun but there are already exciting developments for workers. On 2 February, the Minister of Labour, Tito Mboweni, unveiled a new draft Labour Relations Bill and on 18 February President Nelson Mandela launched the new National Economic, Development and Labour Council, called NEDLAC. The draft Labour Relations Act is a culmination of struggles by workers over the years against apartheid’s labour dispensation. Many of our demands from the Workers Charter and Platform of Worker Rights are included in the proposed law. The strike wave by Pick ’n Pay workers and others last year sent a clear message to the new government: “Our labour law is out of date and inappropriate for a democratic country.” In August 1994, the Minister of Labour appointed a team of lawyers to draft a new law.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/136452 , vital:37380
- Description: The year has hardly begun but there are already exciting developments for workers. On 2 February, the Minister of Labour, Tito Mboweni, unveiled a new draft Labour Relations Bill and on 18 February President Nelson Mandela launched the new National Economic, Development and Labour Council, called NEDLAC. The draft Labour Relations Act is a culmination of struggles by workers over the years against apartheid’s labour dispensation. Many of our demands from the Workers Charter and Platform of Worker Rights are included in the proposed law. The strike wave by Pick ’n Pay workers and others last year sent a clear message to the new government: “Our labour law is out of date and inappropriate for a democratic country.” In August 1994, the Minister of Labour appointed a team of lawyers to draft a new law.
- Full Text:
Labour memorandum on the Labour Relations Act Bill
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1995-06-06
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/106557 , vital:32673
- Description: Workers have struggled for many years for a new Labour Relations Act. We have suffered under the apartheid L.R.A, Bosses were able to dismiss us, pay starvation wages, call the police to beat us up when we struggled for our rights, and make super profits from our labour. With democracy, we expect an end to this slavery and exploitation. We called for a new L.R.A., for a workers L.R.A. Over the past month, we have negotiated with a view of reaching consensus on our key demands. Instead, we have found from the business community, a series of delaying tactics. They have tried to limit the gains we could make for workers. They have tried to protect their management power. They have resisted the development of proper trade union rights. We tender this memorandum to advise that our members are angry. We want rights now! We call on business to endorse basic workers and trade union rights.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1995-06-06
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/106557 , vital:32673
- Description: Workers have struggled for many years for a new Labour Relations Act. We have suffered under the apartheid L.R.A, Bosses were able to dismiss us, pay starvation wages, call the police to beat us up when we struggled for our rights, and make super profits from our labour. With democracy, we expect an end to this slavery and exploitation. We called for a new L.R.A., for a workers L.R.A. Over the past month, we have negotiated with a view of reaching consensus on our key demands. Instead, we have found from the business community, a series of delaying tactics. They have tried to limit the gains we could make for workers. They have tried to protect their management power. They have resisted the development of proper trade union rights. We tender this memorandum to advise that our members are angry. We want rights now! We call on business to endorse basic workers and trade union rights.
- Full Text:
Budgeting people's needs
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 2003
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/134973 , vital:37223
- Description: We hear a lot about the budget as an important expression of government policy. But what is the budget, what does it tell us about government programmes, and how can we influence it? This booklet aims: To support broader understanding and debate on budgets and fiscal policy as the basis for improving the public’s ability to hold government accountable; To explain debates on and key concepts in fiscal policy, budget reform and government expenditure on major programmes; and In that context, to explain the proposals in the People’s Budget and how the People’s Budget Campaign works. The People’s Budget Campaign is supported by a coalition of COSATU, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO). The People’s Budget Campaign seeks to help people understand the budget better. Based on broad discussions and hearings, it works to develop proposals to improve government spending programmes.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 2003
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/134973 , vital:37223
- Description: We hear a lot about the budget as an important expression of government policy. But what is the budget, what does it tell us about government programmes, and how can we influence it? This booklet aims: To support broader understanding and debate on budgets and fiscal policy as the basis for improving the public’s ability to hold government accountable; To explain debates on and key concepts in fiscal policy, budget reform and government expenditure on major programmes; and In that context, to explain the proposals in the People’s Budget and how the People’s Budget Campaign works. The People’s Budget Campaign is supported by a coalition of COSATU, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO). The People’s Budget Campaign seeks to help people understand the budget better. Based on broad discussions and hearings, it works to develop proposals to improve government spending programmes.
- Full Text:
COSATU Constitution as amended at the 4th National Congress
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135027 , vital:37228
- Description: We the Trade Union representatives here present firmly commit ourselves to a unified democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation. We believe that this could only be achieved under the leadership of a united working class. Our history has taught us that to achieve this goal we will have to carry out the following tasks : Organise the unorganised and build effective trade unions based on the democratic organisation of workers in the factories, mines, shops, farms and other workplaces. Organise national industrial trade unions, financed and controlled by their worker members through democratically committees. Unify these industrial unions into a national worker controlled federation. Combat the divisions amongst the workers of South Africa and unite them into a strong and confident working class. Encourage democratic worker organisation and leadership in all spheres of our society together with other progressive sectors of the community. Reinforce and encourage progressive international worker contact and solidarity so as to assist one another in our struggle. We call on all those who identify with this commitment to join us and the workers whom we represent, as comrades in the struggle ahead. We call on all trade unions to strive to unite their members in their ranks without discrimination and prejudice, and therefore resolve that this federation shall determinedly seek to further and protect the interests of all workers and that its guiding motto shall be the universal slogan of working class solidarity: "An injury to one is an injury to all".
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135027 , vital:37228
- Description: We the Trade Union representatives here present firmly commit ourselves to a unified democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation. We believe that this could only be achieved under the leadership of a united working class. Our history has taught us that to achieve this goal we will have to carry out the following tasks : Organise the unorganised and build effective trade unions based on the democratic organisation of workers in the factories, mines, shops, farms and other workplaces. Organise national industrial trade unions, financed and controlled by their worker members through democratically committees. Unify these industrial unions into a national worker controlled federation. Combat the divisions amongst the workers of South Africa and unite them into a strong and confident working class. Encourage democratic worker organisation and leadership in all spheres of our society together with other progressive sectors of the community. Reinforce and encourage progressive international worker contact and solidarity so as to assist one another in our struggle. We call on all those who identify with this commitment to join us and the workers whom we represent, as comrades in the struggle ahead. We call on all trade unions to strive to unite their members in their ranks without discrimination and prejudice, and therefore resolve that this federation shall determinedly seek to further and protect the interests of all workers and that its guiding motto shall be the universal slogan of working class solidarity: "An injury to one is an injury to all".
- Full Text:
COSATU 6th National Congress
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Sep 1997
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109662 , vital:33165
- Description: Cosatu's Sixth National Congress held over four days from 1 6-1 9 September was on the surface a fairly well run operation in which Cosatu, with the involvement of the SACP, effectively drew the battle-lines with respect to its ANC alliance partner on the question of its Growth, Employment and Redistribution macro-economic policy - GEAR. The Congress also laid the groundwork in preparation for the ANC's upcoming December National Conference where socialists are expected to make a determined push in getting elected onto the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as influence ANC strategy and tactics to counter the emergent Africanist grouping which threatens to dilute the ANC's working class bias. The Congress further saw Cosatu clearly attempt to reassert its socialist vision. Using its recently released September Commission Report as a basis for policy formulation, a decision was made that Cosatu should play an active part in the economy and the development of the country. This included Cosatu's involvement in areas such as industrial development strategy, changing investment patterns and new forms of management. The Congress, however, also witnessed the humiliating defeat of carefully crafted motions and much unfinished business concerning the finalisation of critical resolutions and debates raised from the floor. Cosatu's senior leaders including John Gomomo (President), Sam Shilowa (General Secretary) and Zwelinzima Vavi (Deputy General Secretary), were often caught wrong-footed by debates from the floor which countermanded positions thought out prior to the conference by the executive committee. The most embarrassing moment came for Cosatu's leadership when a recommendation to implement a gender quota was rejected by most affiliates, including women delegates themselves. Prior to the Congress, it had been recommended by the September Commission that the federation and its affiliates should adopt a quota system for women. A target had been set of 50 percent representation in all structures by the year 2 000. Mindful of the implications this held for the national affirmative action debate, Cosatu's leadership tried to side- track the issue for a later resolution but were rebuffed by the delegates. Similarly, the debate around globalisation took up a considerable amount of time, which led to Gomomo attempting to bring the debate to a speedy resolution. That in turn resulted in his censure from the floor. Earlier, Shilowa had embarrassed himself when he inadvertently seemed to state that he supported globalisation only to be reminded by the delegates that that was not Cosatu's position
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Sep 1997
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109662 , vital:33165
- Description: Cosatu's Sixth National Congress held over four days from 1 6-1 9 September was on the surface a fairly well run operation in which Cosatu, with the involvement of the SACP, effectively drew the battle-lines with respect to its ANC alliance partner on the question of its Growth, Employment and Redistribution macro-economic policy - GEAR. The Congress also laid the groundwork in preparation for the ANC's upcoming December National Conference where socialists are expected to make a determined push in getting elected onto the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC), as well as influence ANC strategy and tactics to counter the emergent Africanist grouping which threatens to dilute the ANC's working class bias. The Congress further saw Cosatu clearly attempt to reassert its socialist vision. Using its recently released September Commission Report as a basis for policy formulation, a decision was made that Cosatu should play an active part in the economy and the development of the country. This included Cosatu's involvement in areas such as industrial development strategy, changing investment patterns and new forms of management. The Congress, however, also witnessed the humiliating defeat of carefully crafted motions and much unfinished business concerning the finalisation of critical resolutions and debates raised from the floor. Cosatu's senior leaders including John Gomomo (President), Sam Shilowa (General Secretary) and Zwelinzima Vavi (Deputy General Secretary), were often caught wrong-footed by debates from the floor which countermanded positions thought out prior to the conference by the executive committee. The most embarrassing moment came for Cosatu's leadership when a recommendation to implement a gender quota was rejected by most affiliates, including women delegates themselves. Prior to the Congress, it had been recommended by the September Commission that the federation and its affiliates should adopt a quota system for women. A target had been set of 50 percent representation in all structures by the year 2 000. Mindful of the implications this held for the national affirmative action debate, Cosatu's leadership tried to side- track the issue for a later resolution but were rebuffed by the delegates. Similarly, the debate around globalisation took up a considerable amount of time, which led to Gomomo attempting to bring the debate to a speedy resolution. That in turn resulted in his censure from the floor. Earlier, Shilowa had embarrassed himself when he inadvertently seemed to state that he supported globalisation only to be reminded by the delegates that that was not Cosatu's position
- Full Text:
Women in the Labour Movement - Confronting the new millenium
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: June 1999
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115406 , vital:34125
- Description: The year 1999 is the year of assessing performance and delivery. In the political arena we are reflecting on the accomplishments and shortcomings of our young democracy as we prepare our nation for South Africa's second democratic elections on the 2nd of June 1999. At this time, it is important that we also evaluate the progress we as a united labour movement made subsequent to April 1994, since the involvement of COSATU in our struggle for democracy was and still remains crucial. For women the 2nd of June 1999 presents itself as a challenge, especially women within COSATU. The challenge lies in the need to ensure that women are more represented in all structures of the federation, affiliates, down to local structures. Women make up the majority of citizens in South Africa and have been and remain under represented within the trade union movement. This has been the case since the launch of COSATU in 1985.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: June 1999
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/115406 , vital:34125
- Description: The year 1999 is the year of assessing performance and delivery. In the political arena we are reflecting on the accomplishments and shortcomings of our young democracy as we prepare our nation for South Africa's second democratic elections on the 2nd of June 1999. At this time, it is important that we also evaluate the progress we as a united labour movement made subsequent to April 1994, since the involvement of COSATU in our struggle for democracy was and still remains crucial. For women the 2nd of June 1999 presents itself as a challenge, especially women within COSATU. The challenge lies in the need to ensure that women are more represented in all structures of the federation, affiliates, down to local structures. Women make up the majority of citizens in South Africa and have been and remain under represented within the trade union movement. This has been the case since the launch of COSATU in 1985.
- Full Text: