COSATU Hymns - Translation Zulu to English
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English, Zulu
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153842 , vital:39527
- Description: SANIBONANI NONKE FOSATU (X2) SIYANIBINGELELA NONKE NGO 1985 (X2) We greet you all FOSATU we greet you all in 1985 SIYANIBINGELELA NONKE NGO 1985 (X4) We greet you all in 1985.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1985
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1985
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English, Zulu
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/153842 , vital:39527
- Description: SANIBONANI NONKE FOSATU (X2) SIYANIBINGELELA NONKE NGO 1985 (X2) We greet you all FOSATU we greet you all in 1985 SIYANIBINGELELA NONKE NGO 1985 (X4) We greet you all in 1985.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1985
COSATU Political Discussion Paper
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109650 , vital:33164
- Description: This discussion paper is being issued seven months after the 7th National Congress. The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of February 12 to 14, 2001 debated it, and felt that with minor changes it should be issued to COSATU structures and members for debates on the current political situation. This paper is presented to the members and structures of COSATU as a political discussion paper for 2001. A further detailed political discussion will take place in the November 2001 CEC. As the last CEC of 2001, it will be expected to take stock of the political situation, taking into account issues raised here. The February CEC took place almost five months after the Seventh National Congress. The Congress was a watershed moment and a turning noint in the life of the organisation. For 'months"before as well as xiuriiig the- Congress itself, our members and the public focused on the Congress deliberations and discussions. In political terms, this process underlined the central role played by COSATU in the post-apartheid political landscape
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Feb 1991
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109650 , vital:33164
- Description: This discussion paper is being issued seven months after the 7th National Congress. The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of February 12 to 14, 2001 debated it, and felt that with minor changes it should be issued to COSATU structures and members for debates on the current political situation. This paper is presented to the members and structures of COSATU as a political discussion paper for 2001. A further detailed political discussion will take place in the November 2001 CEC. As the last CEC of 2001, it will be expected to take stock of the political situation, taking into account issues raised here. The February CEC took place almost five months after the Seventh National Congress. The Congress was a watershed moment and a turning noint in the life of the organisation. For 'months"before as well as xiuriiig the- Congress itself, our members and the public focused on the Congress deliberations and discussions. In political terms, this process underlined the central role played by COSATU in the post-apartheid political landscape
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Feb 1991
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:
- Date Issued: Aug 1998
- 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:
- Date Issued: Aug 1998
COSATU press statement on the CEC decisions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: May 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109730 , vital:33184
- Description: The COSATU Central Executive Committee met in its first session of the year over two days (5-6May 1998). The CEC received reports on a variety of issues and tool a number of policy decisions and approaches by on these matters. The CEC was characterised by anger and frustration on the scale of job losses in many industries and the failure of the current macro economic strategies to turn this tide around. Below are some of the issues discussed. The CEC endorsed the proposals submitted by Labour in NEDLAC on job 4^ creation in preparation for the Presidential Job Summit. The proposals will be further discussed in the coming Central Committee of COSATU scheduled for the 23-35 June 1998. COSATU shall use the Central Committee to further expand on the broad framework submitted in NEDLAC and get more proposals in line with how labour has categorised issues for the agenda of the Job Summit, i.e. (i) Measures to create jobs (ii) Measures to stop current job losses (iii) Measures to support the unemployed, (iv) Measures to assist the informal sector to be formal (v) Identification of long term issues to be negotiated beyond the Job Summit. COSATU is extremely concerned by the failure of both government and business to submit their proposals at NEDLAC. It is worth to note that various deadlines for them to submit proposals have passed. A million-dollar question is : Why does the government and business seem reluctant to submit their proposals? Clearly both government and business have abundance of capacity to deal with the proposals in a relatively short space of time. This is a major concern for COSATU. Whilst the delays continue, job losses are continuing unabated and the time bomb continue to click.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: May 1998
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: May 1998
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109730 , vital:33184
- Description: The COSATU Central Executive Committee met in its first session of the year over two days (5-6May 1998). The CEC received reports on a variety of issues and tool a number of policy decisions and approaches by on these matters. The CEC was characterised by anger and frustration on the scale of job losses in many industries and the failure of the current macro economic strategies to turn this tide around. Below are some of the issues discussed. The CEC endorsed the proposals submitted by Labour in NEDLAC on job 4^ creation in preparation for the Presidential Job Summit. The proposals will be further discussed in the coming Central Committee of COSATU scheduled for the 23-35 June 1998. COSATU shall use the Central Committee to further expand on the broad framework submitted in NEDLAC and get more proposals in line with how labour has categorised issues for the agenda of the Job Summit, i.e. (i) Measures to create jobs (ii) Measures to stop current job losses (iii) Measures to support the unemployed, (iv) Measures to assist the informal sector to be formal (v) Identification of long term issues to be negotiated beyond the Job Summit. COSATU is extremely concerned by the failure of both government and business to submit their proposals at NEDLAC. It is worth to note that various deadlines for them to submit proposals have passed. A million-dollar question is : Why does the government and business seem reluctant to submit their proposals? Clearly both government and business have abundance of capacity to deal with the proposals in a relatively short space of time. This is a major concern for COSATU. Whilst the delays continue, job losses are continuing unabated and the time bomb continue to click.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: May 1998
Negotiations Bulletin - A new era in labour relations
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Oct 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137567 , vital:37538
- Description: IN FEBRUARY 1995, Comrade Tito Mboweni published for comment and negotiations, a draft Labour Relations Bill, prepared by the Ministerial Task Team led by Halton Cheadle. The initial reactions of both business and labour were generally favourable to the Bill. We indicated that, at a glance, the Bill represented a major shift in industrial relations, an advance in our struggle and that its basic structure had many positive elements. We also indicated that some areas needed reworking and radical changes. By the end of April, labour was ready with its positions. These had been agreed upon by Cosatu’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and in further discussions with Fedsal and Nactu. These positions were published on May Day and presented to business and the government on 4 May. Business was either not ready by then, or had made a decision to delay the process. Throughout the negotiations process, they did not table any constructive proposals. Instead they labeled ours as unworkable and unreasonable. The same approach was adopted by most of the commercial media. By the end of May it was clear to all of us that, short of a massive programme of mass action, mobilisation of the international trade union movement and a new approach to the negotiations, we were not going to have the Bill ready by this year. The result was massive marches and stay aways on 6 and 19 June. Business responded with an advertisement in all major newspapers’ claiming to have accepted the Bill. They even misrepresented Tito’s speech at the launch of the Bill. This was a sign of desperation on their part. A new round of negotiations started again on 21 June 1995 with a series of trilateral negotiations culminating in the Nedlac Agreement of 19 July. While labour was satisfied with most of the issues, we had reservations on the way some of the issues were resolved or captured. We nonetheless agreed that the process of drafting the agreements into law should begin, to ensure that the bill went through parliament before the end of the 1995 sitting, which was scheduled to rise on 15 September. We now have a new law, which, as 1 have indicated earlier, represents a victory for labour and brings in a new era of industrial relations. Most of the issues on which we had reservations, have been resolved either through drafting or the parliamentary process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Oct 1995
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Oct 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137567 , vital:37538
- Description: IN FEBRUARY 1995, Comrade Tito Mboweni published for comment and negotiations, a draft Labour Relations Bill, prepared by the Ministerial Task Team led by Halton Cheadle. The initial reactions of both business and labour were generally favourable to the Bill. We indicated that, at a glance, the Bill represented a major shift in industrial relations, an advance in our struggle and that its basic structure had many positive elements. We also indicated that some areas needed reworking and radical changes. By the end of April, labour was ready with its positions. These had been agreed upon by Cosatu’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and in further discussions with Fedsal and Nactu. These positions were published on May Day and presented to business and the government on 4 May. Business was either not ready by then, or had made a decision to delay the process. Throughout the negotiations process, they did not table any constructive proposals. Instead they labeled ours as unworkable and unreasonable. The same approach was adopted by most of the commercial media. By the end of May it was clear to all of us that, short of a massive programme of mass action, mobilisation of the international trade union movement and a new approach to the negotiations, we were not going to have the Bill ready by this year. The result was massive marches and stay aways on 6 and 19 June. Business responded with an advertisement in all major newspapers’ claiming to have accepted the Bill. They even misrepresented Tito’s speech at the launch of the Bill. This was a sign of desperation on their part. A new round of negotiations started again on 21 June 1995 with a series of trilateral negotiations culminating in the Nedlac Agreement of 19 July. While labour was satisfied with most of the issues, we had reservations on the way some of the issues were resolved or captured. We nonetheless agreed that the process of drafting the agreements into law should begin, to ensure that the bill went through parliament before the end of the 1995 sitting, which was scheduled to rise on 15 September. We now have a new law, which, as 1 have indicated earlier, represents a victory for labour and brings in a new era of industrial relations. Most of the issues on which we had reservations, have been resolved either through drafting or the parliamentary process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Oct 1995
COSATU Resolutions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1986
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135007 , vital:37226
- Description: South Africa is going through its severest economic crisis ever with millions unemployed, retrenched and without any jobs and with no social security or benefits; the cost of which is measured in the loss of lives, through poverty and starvation, and massive degradation and demoralisation of the workers and all the oppressed people in SA. The economic crisis is part and parcel of a political crisis. The state is incapable of meeting even the minimum democratic demands of the people and has to instead resort to violent measures to stifle all opposition. The present state of emergency with its accompanying arrests of thousands of people, the killing of hundreds and banning of democratic organisations such as COSAS also affects workers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Feb 1986
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Feb 1986
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135007 , vital:37226
- Description: South Africa is going through its severest economic crisis ever with millions unemployed, retrenched and without any jobs and with no social security or benefits; the cost of which is measured in the loss of lives, through poverty and starvation, and massive degradation and demoralisation of the workers and all the oppressed people in SA. The economic crisis is part and parcel of a political crisis. The state is incapable of meeting even the minimum democratic demands of the people and has to instead resort to violent measures to stifle all opposition. The present state of emergency with its accompanying arrests of thousands of people, the killing of hundreds and banning of democratic organisations such as COSAS also affects workers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Feb 1986
NEDLAC and the goals of labour
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176145 , vital:42663
- Description: The launch of NEDLAC offers a unique opportunity to our country - a chance to rebuild the economy and society through a consensus forged among workers, investors, government and the community. The road to that consensus will, no doubt, be stormy and rocky. You cannot bring together Jabu Xulu, earning R200.00 per week, after working for 15 years, with a family of five to feed; and John Smith, the Chief Executive Officer of a major conglomerate, earning R20 000.00 per week, and expect that it will be a calm and easy process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/176145 , vital:42663
- Description: The launch of NEDLAC offers a unique opportunity to our country - a chance to rebuild the economy and society through a consensus forged among workers, investors, government and the community. The road to that consensus will, no doubt, be stormy and rocky. You cannot bring together Jabu Xulu, earning R200.00 per week, after working for 15 years, with a family of five to feed; and John Smith, the Chief Executive Officer of a major conglomerate, earning R20 000.00 per week, and expect that it will be a calm and easy process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1995
DIMES Review - Vol 3
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 1990
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135457 , vital:37268
- Description: In 1652 the Dutch came to this land. Initially he sought to arrest refreshments for his ships that went to the east. Soon he realised that the land was good for them to settle. In settling he infringed on the way of life of the peoples living on this land destroying the social and cultural fabric of a peaceful society. Slowly but surely the wars of dispossession began. The land that was once the black mans was now in foreign hands. All that was in abundance was reduced to scarcity .People resisted but they were put down . Our history is shameful that it is drenched in blood. The Act of Union instead of bringing people together seperated and we remain seperated today. The 1913 Land Act instead of giving people back their land took it away from them. From 1910 to 1970 something like 200 laws were passed legislating against black people. The numerous pass laws restricting movement of people from one place to the other heaped indignity upon indignity on the black people. Workers suffered, they always do! They have to turn the wheels that produce the energy that makes South Africa turn. Over the years, with the dispossession of land, African people were drawn into wage labour. This was not a voluntary process. The goverment brought about Laws that asked money from people called taxes - hut tax, poll tax, dog tax etc. Prior to the formation of the Industrail and Commercial Workers Union strikes were a rare industrial relations exercise. With increased unionisation workers started to become aware that the laws passed by the government was to facilitate an economic end. That is why the ICU became embroiled in politics. Workers were affected by Apartheid laws that acted as leeches, sucking blood of the workers and draining them of their energy. They demonstrated against these laws. COSATU was launched in the same vein challenging the State to scrap apartheid - pass laws. Today we do not live in a new South Africa,the new is yet to come. The South Africa we live in is however, old and dying - decay has set in. History is a constant reminder of her shameful past - a past that will never be blotted out but can only act as an impetus to strive towards change. The Group Areas Act, the Population Registration Act, the Seperate Amenities Act are all geared to political and social separation of the masses. We have become victims of these laws
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 1990
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 1990
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135457 , vital:37268
- Description: In 1652 the Dutch came to this land. Initially he sought to arrest refreshments for his ships that went to the east. Soon he realised that the land was good for them to settle. In settling he infringed on the way of life of the peoples living on this land destroying the social and cultural fabric of a peaceful society. Slowly but surely the wars of dispossession began. The land that was once the black mans was now in foreign hands. All that was in abundance was reduced to scarcity .People resisted but they were put down . Our history is shameful that it is drenched in blood. The Act of Union instead of bringing people together seperated and we remain seperated today. The 1913 Land Act instead of giving people back their land took it away from them. From 1910 to 1970 something like 200 laws were passed legislating against black people. The numerous pass laws restricting movement of people from one place to the other heaped indignity upon indignity on the black people. Workers suffered, they always do! They have to turn the wheels that produce the energy that makes South Africa turn. Over the years, with the dispossession of land, African people were drawn into wage labour. This was not a voluntary process. The goverment brought about Laws that asked money from people called taxes - hut tax, poll tax, dog tax etc. Prior to the formation of the Industrail and Commercial Workers Union strikes were a rare industrial relations exercise. With increased unionisation workers started to become aware that the laws passed by the government was to facilitate an economic end. That is why the ICU became embroiled in politics. Workers were affected by Apartheid laws that acted as leeches, sucking blood of the workers and draining them of their energy. They demonstrated against these laws. COSATU was launched in the same vein challenging the State to scrap apartheid - pass laws. Today we do not live in a new South Africa,the new is yet to come. The South Africa we live in is however, old and dying - decay has set in. History is a constant reminder of her shameful past - a past that will never be blotted out but can only act as an impetus to strive towards change. The Group Areas Act, the Population Registration Act, the Seperate Amenities Act are all geared to political and social separation of the masses. We have become victims of these laws
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 1990
Advancing Social Transformation in the Era of Globalisation
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: July 2000
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137600 , vital:37541
- Description: The COSATU Central Executive Committee Lekgotla endorsed this document in May 2000. It aims to initiate a discussion in COSATU and the democratic movement as a whole on the state of the transformation and our progress in taking forward the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). This process should inform the development of resolutions for COSATU's Seventh National Congress. The years since the transition to democracy in 1994 have seen fundamental shifts in the political economy of South Africa. These shifts present new challenges for COSATU and the democratic movement as a whole. To address them requires reflection on the basic trends in society and our strategies for pursuing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). This document first reviews progress and setbacks in achieving these goals since the transition to democracy in 1994. In that context, it explores current attempts to rewrite the aims of the NDR. Above all, some groups want to redefine the NDR merely to provide equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race. This tendency would stop the NDR before it achieves more fundamental reconstruction and development toward a non-racial, nonsexist society on the basis of democ- ratisation of the state and the economy. After considering these issues, the document explores changes in the balance of power, in terms of the political arena, the nature of capital, international developments, the state and the Alliance. Finally, it points to some implications for the development of transformatory programmes by COSATU and the Alliance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: July 2000
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: July 2000
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/137600 , vital:37541
- Description: The COSATU Central Executive Committee Lekgotla endorsed this document in May 2000. It aims to initiate a discussion in COSATU and the democratic movement as a whole on the state of the transformation and our progress in taking forward the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). This process should inform the development of resolutions for COSATU's Seventh National Congress. The years since the transition to democracy in 1994 have seen fundamental shifts in the political economy of South Africa. These shifts present new challenges for COSATU and the democratic movement as a whole. To address them requires reflection on the basic trends in society and our strategies for pursuing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR). This document first reviews progress and setbacks in achieving these goals since the transition to democracy in 1994. In that context, it explores current attempts to rewrite the aims of the NDR. Above all, some groups want to redefine the NDR merely to provide equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race. This tendency would stop the NDR before it achieves more fundamental reconstruction and development toward a non-racial, nonsexist society on the basis of democ- ratisation of the state and the economy. After considering these issues, the document explores changes in the balance of power, in terms of the political arena, the nature of capital, international developments, the state and the Alliance. Finally, it points to some implications for the development of transformatory programmes by COSATU and the Alliance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: July 2000
6th National Congress Resolutions
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116111 , vital:34298
- 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:
- Date Issued: 1996
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 1996
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/116111 , vital:34298
- 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:
- Date Issued: 1996
Recruiters Guidelines
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109753 , vital:33186
- Description: The purpose of this booklet is to touch in number of areas, which are important at this point for the recruitment campaign of the federation. It is not meant even by implication to provide details of how to handle the campaign what it does is to highlight issues and areas that we must think in the preparation for this campaign. More importantly is the fact that COSATU remains the biggest federation in South Africa and fastest growing international. Beside a loss of membership from + 2 million to + 1.8 million members. The decrease in membership is mostly because of retrenchments. The well known fact is that only about 40% of the workforce that is unionized. The aim of the recruitment drive is to access this 60% that is not unionized. The mistake must not be committed to think that the 40%, which is unionized, belong to COSATU. There are two other federations plus number of non-affiliated unions. Our commitment to One Country One Federation does not stop us to recruit from other unions as long as we remain under different bodies. This October campaign coincides with Red October campaign of the SACP and Health and Safety month of the federation this must be seen as strength than lack of co-ordination. One area that is link to recruitment is the servicing of membership. It is useless to recruit and fail to service membership because every campaign that we will take around recruitment we may find ourselves had to fight with disgruntled members and obviously it will be difficult to attract new members. This must say to us that members come first.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/109753 , vital:33186
- Description: The purpose of this booklet is to touch in number of areas, which are important at this point for the recruitment campaign of the federation. It is not meant even by implication to provide details of how to handle the campaign what it does is to highlight issues and areas that we must think in the preparation for this campaign. More importantly is the fact that COSATU remains the biggest federation in South Africa and fastest growing international. Beside a loss of membership from + 2 million to + 1.8 million members. The decrease in membership is mostly because of retrenchments. The well known fact is that only about 40% of the workforce that is unionized. The aim of the recruitment drive is to access this 60% that is not unionized. The mistake must not be committed to think that the 40%, which is unionized, belong to COSATU. There are two other federations plus number of non-affiliated unions. Our commitment to One Country One Federation does not stop us to recruit from other unions as long as we remain under different bodies. This October campaign coincides with Red October campaign of the SACP and Health and Safety month of the federation this must be seen as strength than lack of co-ordination. One area that is link to recruitment is the servicing of membership. It is useless to recruit and fail to service membership because every campaign that we will take around recruitment we may find ourselves had to fight with disgruntled members and obviously it will be difficult to attract new members. This must say to us that members come first.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
Constitution of COSATU
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154382 , vital:39693
- 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 can 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: To organise the unorganised workers 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 elected committees.
- Full Text:
- Authors: COSATU
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/154382 , vital:39693
- 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 can 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: To organise the unorganised workers 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 elected committees.
- Full Text:
Information Digest - Number 10 - Focus on COSATU Campaigns Conference
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110194 , vital:33246
- Description: Three hundred delegates from COSATU’s 14 affiliates and nine regions met on the 9th and 10th March to discuss COSATU’s Campaigns programme of action for 1991. The Conference decided that the major campaigns for the year will be: Campaign for a Constituent Assembly and Interim government closely linked to a Campaign for Workers Rights in a new Constitution. Campaign for job security and job creation entitled: "Jobs for ail - no retrenchments" Campaign for the extension of the Labour Relations Act to farm, domestic and public sector workers as weil as workers in the Bantustans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 1991
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Mar 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110194 , vital:33246
- Description: Three hundred delegates from COSATU’s 14 affiliates and nine regions met on the 9th and 10th March to discuss COSATU’s Campaigns programme of action for 1991. The Conference decided that the major campaigns for the year will be: Campaign for a Constituent Assembly and Interim government closely linked to a Campaign for Workers Rights in a new Constitution. Campaign for job security and job creation entitled: "Jobs for ail - no retrenchments" Campaign for the extension of the Labour Relations Act to farm, domestic and public sector workers as weil as workers in the Bantustans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Mar 1991
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:
- Date Issued: Feb 1995
- 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:
- Date Issued: Feb 1995
Stop privatisation - Join the campaign
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: June 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135389 , vital:37263
- Description: Privatisation is when government hands over the management or assets of government services to private interests. Privatised services don't provide well for the poor, who can't pay, because private interests must make profits. Government says it will ensure the poor get good services through contracts and regulations - but it doesn't have capacity to enforce them. Privatisation makes it harder to maintain cross subsidies. Cross subsidies mean rich communities or industry pay more, so that poor households can pay less. Getting rid of cross-subsidies tends to make the prices for services for the poor go up. Privatised companies don't take the broader economic needs of the country into account, for instance by buying goods locally as a way to create jobs, and providing affordable services in remote regions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: June 1991
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: June 1991
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/135389 , vital:37263
- Description: Privatisation is when government hands over the management or assets of government services to private interests. Privatised services don't provide well for the poor, who can't pay, because private interests must make profits. Government says it will ensure the poor get good services through contracts and regulations - but it doesn't have capacity to enforce them. Privatisation makes it harder to maintain cross subsidies. Cross subsidies mean rich communities or industry pay more, so that poor households can pay less. Getting rid of cross-subsidies tends to make the prices for services for the poor go up. Privatised companies don't take the broader economic needs of the country into account, for instance by buying goods locally as a way to create jobs, and providing affordable services in remote regions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: June 1991
Transforming ourselves to transform society, Report of the Organisational Review Commission to the Central Committee
- COSATU
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Nov 2001
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118674 , vital:34657
- Description: This report focuses on COSATU’s organisation in the 21st century in terms of organising and service strategies; organisational structures; and leadership, management and staff development. In each section, the proposals point to key directions for organisational renewal. The report will be discussed at the Central Committee meeting on November 19 to 22, 2001. It should be subjected to detailed debate and mandating in the run up to the Central Committee. The Seventh National Congress established the need for this organisational review. It noted the “need for a thorough organisational review,” in order to avoid a piecemeal and ad hoc approach. It therefore resolved, “A commission be established: to review structures of the Federation at all levels, including the substructures of the CEC, to propose policy changes and where appropriate propose constitutional amendments. The commission must report to the Central Committee in 2001, which will refer any proposed constitutional amendments to the next Congress.” In February 2001, the CEC established the Organisational Review Commission. At the time, it noted worrying trends in some unions’ ability to maintain services to members, and therefore decided to extend the review to include all aspects of organisational development. In April, the CEC approved terms of reference. The members of the Commission are listed in Appendix 1. They include NOBs of COSATU and affiliates, regional office bearers, some COSATU heads of department, representatives of NALEDI and DITSELA, and an (expert on organisational review. In preparing this report, the Commission held several workshops, and the extended September CEC discussed the draft in depth. Still, the Commission’s work was constrained by the lack of time and resources. Members have many other responsibilities, including mobilising for the strike against privatisation in August. The Commission itself did not have a dedicated budget.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Nov 2001
- Authors: COSATU
- Date: Nov 2001
- Subjects: COSATU
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/118674 , vital:34657
- Description: This report focuses on COSATU’s organisation in the 21st century in terms of organising and service strategies; organisational structures; and leadership, management and staff development. In each section, the proposals point to key directions for organisational renewal. The report will be discussed at the Central Committee meeting on November 19 to 22, 2001. It should be subjected to detailed debate and mandating in the run up to the Central Committee. The Seventh National Congress established the need for this organisational review. It noted the “need for a thorough organisational review,” in order to avoid a piecemeal and ad hoc approach. It therefore resolved, “A commission be established: to review structures of the Federation at all levels, including the substructures of the CEC, to propose policy changes and where appropriate propose constitutional amendments. The commission must report to the Central Committee in 2001, which will refer any proposed constitutional amendments to the next Congress.” In February 2001, the CEC established the Organisational Review Commission. At the time, it noted worrying trends in some unions’ ability to maintain services to members, and therefore decided to extend the review to include all aspects of organisational development. In April, the CEC approved terms of reference. The members of the Commission are listed in Appendix 1. They include NOBs of COSATU and affiliates, regional office bearers, some COSATU heads of department, representatives of NALEDI and DITSELA, and an (expert on organisational review. In preparing this report, the Commission held several workshops, and the extended September CEC discussed the draft in depth. Still, the Commission’s work was constrained by the lack of time and resources. Members have many other responsibilities, including mobilising for the strike against privatisation in August. The Commission itself did not have a dedicated budget.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: Nov 2001