Editorial, Sechaba, 1 January 1986
The launch of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), during the last days of November (1985), was historic in many respects. Durban -the scene of the 1973-74 strikes which ushered in the new trade union and working class militancy - was chosen as a venue.
930 delegates representing 37 progressive trade unions formed a trade union federation - the Congress of South African Unions. This federation represents nearly half a million black workers. Surely it's the biggest and most representative workers movement in the history of South Africa.
The new federation represents a merger between factory-based unions and community-centred unions, including unions affiliated to the UDF. This was a product of hard work - four years of 'unity talks' and much more; hard slogging, day-to-day explanations, and mobilisation of people on bread an butter (or, to be more precise, mielies and sour milk) issues.
This also means that a powerful new voice has been added to the politics of South Africa. This new extension of trade union cooperation is a new source of strength, not only to the new worker body, but to the democratic trade union and working class movement in South Africa in general.
At a mass rally at the Durban King's Park Stadium, Elijah Barayi, vice president of the National Union of Mine Workers and the newly elected President of COSATU, addressed and audience of 10 000 chanting and cheering people. He told them that COSATU is fighting for better wages and working conditions; it is also fighting against apartheid. The new organisation wants to ensure that its worker-orientated policies "are eventually made the politics of the oppressed people of this country." He demanded the nationalisation of the mines and industries, and supported the call for disinvestment, and went on to say that unless the regime scrapped apartheid in six months, the new federation would organise a campaign of pass burning.
This is not an empty threat if one remembers that at the mass funeral in Queenstown on 7 December 1985, African youths wearing khaki uniforms, decorated with ANC colours and carrying wooden AKs and revolvers, sang revolutionary songs of Umkhonto we Sizwe and acted out battles. The people at home mean business.
The principles on which this new federation is formed are:
There are many problems to be resolved and lots more to be solved. The Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) and the Azanian Confederation of Trade Unions (AZACTU) stayed away because they subscribe to a policy of 'black leadership' rather than non-racialism. There are 560 000 workers organised in white-dominated , racist trade unions, and only 14% of the total work force is organised in any union.
In welcoming the formation of COSATU, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) stated: " Our revolution requires a united and strong trade union movement, determined to satisfy demands for higher wages, good working conditions, removal of colour bars, equal opportunities to work and the achievement of complete emancipation. The new federation, COSATU, can and will fulfill these aims. It must become a truly democratic centre of organised activity for all workers who are determined to liberate our country from its existing oppressive and exploitative social system... The Federation, in unison with the national liberation movement and its allies, is called upon to perform an historic task by calling on its members and the organised workers to participate fully in the struggle for liberation, social justice and equality."
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