<http://www.wftucentral.org/?language=en>
http://www.wftucentral.org/wftulogoen.gif
COSATU welcomes WFTU to South Africa
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) takes this opportunity
to welcome the Presidential Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions
(WFTU), which, for the first time in its history, is being hosted in our
country and continent.
The history of the WFTU is tied to our own history of struggle against
apartheid and colonialism, as well as capitalism in general on our continent
and throughout the world.
We congratulate our affiliates who are hosting this historic event - NUMSA,
NEHAWU, POPCRU and CEPPWAWU - and wish them every success in their hosting
of this important event in the calendar of working people all over the
world.
COSATU continues to call for the unity of working people all over the world
and will continue to demand that all trade unions work towards unity in
order to build and consolidate working class power.
In taking a firm stand against the triple evils of apartheid, colonialism
and capitalism, the WFTU has expressed the deepest sympathy for the
suffering of most working people in the developing world, and shared the
trenches in our own struggle against apartheid.
This history will be well narrated this evening when our stalwarts and
veterans who benefitted from the solidarity of the WFTU are honoured.
Amongst them are: Moses Kotane, Moses Mabhida, Lesley Masina, Michael
Harmel, Eric Mtshali, JB Marks, John Nkadimeng and Nelson Mandela.
This will take place during a Gala Dinner which will be addressed by General
Secretary of the WFTU, George Mavrikos, and the ANC's message will be
delivered by ANC President Jacob Zuma via a recorded message. A number of
leaders of the ANC, SACP, COSATU and its affiliates will be present at the
Gala Dinner, beginning at 18h30pm, Parktonian Hotel, Braamfontein.
The President of COSATU, Comrade Sidumo Dlamini, will address the
Presidential Council on Thursday 9 February 2012, at 9h15am, Parktonian
Hotel, Braamfontein. A Shop Stewards Council meeting will be held on Friday
10 February 2012, starting at 14h00pm, Recreation Centre (Behind the
Parktonian Hotel), Cnr Simmonds and Juta Streets, Braamfontein,
Johannesburg.
The speakers are the General Secretaries of: WFTU George Mavrikos, NUMSA
Irvin Jim and NEHAWU Fikile Slovo Majola.
COSATU wishes the Presidential Council successful deliberations and hopes
that it will put at the centre of its deliberations the critical question of
working class unity and the struggle to defeat neo-liberalism in the era of
a deepening global capitalist crisis, where humanity has confirmed even more
that capitalism is not the future. An alternative is needed now and that
alternative is socialism.
Bongani Masuku (International Relations Secretary),
Congress of South African Trade Unions
1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets,
Braamfontein, 2017
Johannesburg
P.O.Box 1019
Johannesburg, 2000
South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24
Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940
Mobile: +27 79 499 6419
E-Mail: bong...@cosatu.org.za
