Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 3 November 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu40thAnniversary countdown begins… #Cosatu scheduled to hold its 40th Anniversary at Dobsonville, Soweto on December 6 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
3 November 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila and NUM President Phillippi Vilakazi to lead joint SACP/NUM protests in Cape Town
- COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
- South Africa
- SAMWU vindicated as City of Tshwane exemption application is dismissed again!
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Mining unions pledge solidarity to confront global capital in a volatile sector MiningConference2_4
- We are all in for equality: women’s power at the heart of IndustriALL’s global movement
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila and NUM President Phillippi Vilakazi to lead joint SACP/NUM protests in Cape Town
3 November 2025
The South African Communist Party (SACP) and the NNational Union of Mineworkers (NUM) invite members of the media to cover the joint SACP-NUM Red Friday and Red Saturday activities taking place on 7 – 8 November 2025 as part of the Red October 2025/2026 Programme.
These actions form part of the continuing struggle against capitalist exploitation, social decay, surge of violent crime and state incapacity, and highlight the urgent need for socialist transformation and people-centred governance.
RED FRIDAY: 7 NOVEMBER 2025
• Action: Picket against violent crime, corruption, and government inaction
• Time: 12h00 – 13h00
• Venue: Outside the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, Cape Town
The picket condemns the surge of violent crime in the Western Cape, particularly in black working-class communities, and the government’s failure to curb the escalating violence and corruption.
The SACP and NUM will, amongst other things, call for:
• Decisive action to combat violent crime and protect communities.
• The release of the Western Cape Ombudsperson’s report implicating police officers allegedly captured by underworld criminal networks.
• Appointment of the Provincial Intelligence Head.
• The City of Cape Town to account for the 31 unaccounted-for firearms on the hands of the City of Cape Town as revealed by the 2022 firearm inspectorate report.
A detailed memorandum of demands will be handed over to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, Lieutenant General Patekile, and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The picket will be addressed by SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila and NUM President Phillippi Vilakazi, who will jointly lead the delegation to deliver the memorandum.
RED SATURDAY: 8 NOVEMBER 2025
Action: Protest march
Route: From NUM Offices, 10 2nd Avenue, Boston Street, Bellville
To: Eskom and the Department of Employment and Labour, Bellville
Time: 11h00 – 13h00
The Red Saturday march will focus on economic justice and workers’ rights, highlighting:
● Opposition to the unbundling and privatisation of Eskom.
● Reversal of excessive electricity tariff hikes.
● Urgent increase in the number of labour inspectors.
● Expansion of labour department services in rural areas.
The march will be led by SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila and NUM President Phillippi Vilakazi.
Issued by:
South African Communist Party, Western Cape, and National Union of Mineworkers Western Cape
For Media Enquiries:
Benson Ngqentsu SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary
082 796 6400
Mlondolozi Limaphi
NUM Western Cape Regional Secretary
073 518 3455
Media Liaison Contacts:
Lizwi Gegula –
SACP Western Cape Provincial Spokesperson
078 827 2274
LLivhuwani Mammburu NUM National Spokesperson
083 809 3257
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COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 25 September 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set the host a series of lectures in the lead up to its 40th anniversary celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.
The culmination of four years of unity talks, COSATU came into being on 1 December 1985, and brought together 33 competing unions and federations opposed to apartheid and whose common goal was to bring about a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
The Federation has been at the forefront of advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers since, and has led in the formation of the country’s progressive labour laws including workers’ rights to form trade unions, collective bargaining and to strike, minimum conditions of service, National Minimum Wage, etc.
From its vehement resistance of apartheid to the ushering in of the democratic dispensation and improving the economic and social wellbeing of the working class 31 years post democracy, COSATU has stood the test of time.
In the lead up to its 40th anniversary in December, the Federation will host a variety of activities starting with a series of lectures by its National Office Bearers.
The lectures will tackle diverse subjects from COSATU’s pivotal role in gender struggles to the strike that broke the back of industry-wide exploitative labour practices as far back as 1959.
Province:
Northern Cape
Date:
30 October
Topic: COSATU and the Liberation Movement
Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary
Province:
North-West
Date:
19 November
Topic: Strengthening Industrial Unions to build a militant COSATU
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
Province:
Eastern Cape
Date:
20 November
Topic: COSATU and the Reconfiguration of the Alliance
Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President
Province:
Gauteng
Date:
21 November
Topic: COSATU and the Mass Democratic Movement
Main Speaker: Zingiswa Losi, COSATU President
Issued by COSATU
SAMWU vindicated as City of Tshwane exemption application is dismissed again!
Dumisane Magagula, SAMWU General Secretary, 3 November 2025
The South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) today claims a victory that transcends mere legal outcome. The decisive ruling from the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC), issued on 31 October 2025, firmly dismisses the City of Tshwane's cynical application for exemption from implementing the 2021/2022 Salary and Wage Collective Agreement. This ruling serves as a legal defeat for the City and also a triumph of justice over executive arrogance and a validation of the workers' dignity.
In its ruling, the SALGBC has the City to comply with the Salary and Wage Agreement and effect the necessary adjustments and payments, including all back pay, within six months of the award. This ruling marks the second time the City has failed in this very attempt, following the Labour Court's instruction for a rehearing. The SALGBC has now, unequivocally and for the second time, upheld the rights of workers, directing the City to pay workers the overdue 3.5% salary increases that were supposed to be effected in July 2021.
For years, while the City played endless legal games, workers in Tshwane and their families have been subjected to severe and unjust economic hardship. These delays forced our members to face soaring costs of living without the crucial salary adjustments that were legally due to them. This hardship was not just a misfortune, it was a direct consequence of the employer's deliberate actions to shirk a binding collective agreement.
The SALGBC's finding cuts to the heart of the matter that the City failed to prove unaffordability and instead chose to prioritise massive increases in non-essential expenditures, such as inflated contracted services, over the livelihoods of its own dedicated workforce. The argument that paying the increase would be "unlawful" was soundly rejected by the Commissioner, confirming that no deliberate, politically-motivated budget omission can be allowed to tear up a legally binding contract.
SAMWU has tirelessly and relentlessly fought this battle, ensuring the integrity of our case by appointing the best legal teams possible. Our victory sends a resounding message to the employer and many others that, the integrity of collective bargaining is sacrosanct. It is the bedrock of labour peace, and no employer, regardless of its size or political will, will be allowed to casually undermine the rights and agreements fought for and won by the working class.
The profound labour instability and service delivery crises that have plagued Tshwane were not caused by the workers demanding their dues, but by the employer's systemic disrespect and devaluation of its workforce.
This dismissal now demands immediate, non-negotiable compliance. We therefore urge the City and its management to implement this ruling without further delay. It is about time the City respects the rule of law and the sanctity of the collective agreement. Furthermore, SAMWU issues an urgent and unequivocal call for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the 41 workers who were unfairly and unprocedurally dismissed for demanding these very increases that have now been fully vindicated by the SALGBC. Their reinstatement is non-negotiable and a necessary act of healing to restore trust.
While we celebrate this victory, our fight for full compensation continues. Regarding the subsequent 5.4% wage increase also due to workers, SAMWU is appealing the Labour Court's previous ruling and has appointed an even stronger legal team for the matter before the Labour Appeal Court. Our resolve is iron-clad, we firmly believe the union will emerge victorious on that matter as well. SAMWU will continue to stand as the shield and sword for every municipal worker, ensuring that justice is not just promised, but delivered.
As a Union, we thank our members for the trust that they had in the union throughout the process, we commit ourselves to ensure that we force the employer to implement this ruling, while delicately following up on the outstanding 5.4% increases.
Issued by SAMWU Secretariat
International-Solidarity
Mining unions pledge solidarity to confront global capital in a volatile sector
MiningConference2_4
3 November, 2025
The mining and diamonds, gems, ornaments, jewellery, and processing (DGOJP) industries, long a cornerstone of global supply chains, are undergoing a deep transformation. Surging demand for battery metals including copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel fuels the green-energy turn, while rare earths underpin everything from wind turbines to electric vehicles.
The gold price has rebound even as lab-grown diamonds erode the sparkle of natural gems. Automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping operations, causing job losses, and disrupting work.
At the IndustriALL Global Union world mining conference in Sydney, Australia, 2 November, 200 delegates from 35 countries convened to navigate these developments and develop trade union strategies. The conference is a build up to the IndustriALL 4th Congress which begins on 4 November. Panels dissected critical issues on climate change and a Just Transition for workers, global minerals governance and human rights due diligence (HRDD) in supply chains, corporate accountability through campaigns, and cross-cutting challenges like occupational health and safety (OHS) alongside gender dimensions of the changing mining industries.
Conference presentations cited the importance of IndustriALL’s participation in the UN panel on critical energy transition minerals which is recommending fairness, transparency, investment, sustainability, and HRDD along the minerals value chain.
The conference discussed coal’s twilight with projections suggesting that nearly a million jobs could vanish by 2050, yet comprehensive redeployment plans remain elusive. IGBCE cautioned on the need for planning in coal mine closures drawing from Germany’s experience when over 600 000 jobs were lost. In South Africa, 100,000 coal miners face job losses without reskilling lifelines while Colombia continues to rely on coal as an economic resource and mineworkers fearing imminent closure of these mines without a Just Transition framework in place.
However, IndustriALL is advocating for a Just Transition rooted in foresight with anticipatory policies to smooth disruptions, robust social safety nets, and innovative, worker-led retraining schemes. Decent green jobs must prioritise security and inclusive social dialogue must involve unions, mining companies, governments, and communities.
In Australia, union lobbying secured the Net Zero Economy Act, a blueprint for decarbonisation. Unlike Europe and other continents, Australia does not have social dialogue and co-determination mechanisms. Other highlights included South Africa’s upskilling and reskilling programme, Just Transition in Indonesia’s coal regions, and SINTRACARBON’s initiative on the Just Transition.
“Economic diversification in the renewable energy transition is critical, and this should come with resource support as most countries in the Global South lack the infrastructure to unlock mineral wealth and to beneficiate mineral resources necessary for industrialization, which proposal the African Mining Vision makes,”
said Kemal Ozkan, assistant general secretary.
Tributes to Brazil’s 2019 Brumadinho dam disaster underscored the perils of lax environmental oversight, while India’s privatisation push has bred precarious work which is eroding job security. Concerns were raised at India’s appalling mine safety records.
Speakers said workers continue to endure assaults on fundamental rights including union-busting, curbs on freedom of association and collective bargaining, plus fatalities and ailments from poor working conditions. Wages remain paltry, especially in the Global South’s mines, where families scrape by. Women workers grapple with gender-based violence and harassment and campaigns should be launched for gender equity and the setting up of lactating facilities for breast feeding mothers.
Further, Chinese multinationals often violate workers’ rights and ignore national labour laws and international standards. The conference urged trade unions to develop strategies to curb the abuses.
Importantly, discussions stressed that unions are countering violations with vigour and creating union-to-union solidarity networks, from company-specific networks targeting multinationals to commodity specific networks. For example, USW Canada and SVS in Madagascar cooperated on workers’ rights at QMM Fort Dauphin.
Unions hailed the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) as the only framework granting worker representation prompting mining companies to develop rival, less rigorous, industry driven alternatives like the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CSMI). The conference discussed how voluntary standards can play a role in closing accountability gaps.
The conference’s plan of action chart a bold course and roadmap. Delegates pledged to bolster Global North-Global South mineworkers solidarity, amplify inclusion via Women in Mining initiatives and youth programmes, foster dialogue with indigenous groups, share OHS best practices, and lobby for ratification of ILO Convention 176 on safety and health in mines.
Further strategies target precariousness and campaigning for workers’ rights, living wages, and coordination with the ILO and IRMA. Organising drives will span multinationals, regions, and locales, encompassing sub-sectors from coal and iron ore to gold, diamonds, and jewellery. A global gold network, with Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti, has been launched.
Due diligence in critical minerals will get a push, via training on leveraging it for bargaining and rights protection. The battery supply chain remains a priority, drawing from auto-sector strength to aid mineworkers. Additionally, mining unions will work with energy affiliates, enterprises, and governments, and strengthen networks through research and mobilization.
“Democracy isn’t confined to ballots and parliament benches. Trade unions embody it in the workplace, and they must shape industrial policies to unite communities and the working class,”
said Grahame Kelly, Mining and Energy Union (MEU) general secretary.
“We need responsible and sustainable mining practices and responsible sourcing linkages to improve workers conditions, improve community livelihoods, respect indigenous peoples’ rights, and the environment. But this can only happen if unions organize in the supply chain where workers and human rights are respected,”
said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining and DGOJP.
Cathy Drummond from USW and Stephen Smyth from MEU were elected co-chairs for the mining and DGOJP industries.
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We are all in for equality: women’s power at the heart of IndustriALL’s global movement
3 November, 2025
The day before IndustriALL’s 4th Congress, more than 350 women from every region and sector filled the room with energy, colour and conviction at the Women’s Conference, under the banner “We are all in for equality.”
It was a day that radiated the spirit of sisterhood and solidarity, where stories of struggle became stories of strength and where mentorship, leadership and vision merged into a shared declaration of collective power.
Setting the tone for equality
The conference opened with a welcome from Christina Olivier, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, who paid respect to elders past and present, marking the event as the first in-person Women’s Conference in six years.
“Well done to all of us,”
she said to an audience that had waited years for this moment of reconnection.
IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie congratulated the Women’s Committee and its leaders, for their tireless work in advancing gender equality. He celebrated that women now make up 43 per cent of Congress delegates, a rise from 28 per cent in Rio in 2016, a clear sign of progress, but also a call for continued commitment.
“There is no just future without women as equals in trade unions,”
he reminded the room.
“The theme ‘We are all In for equality’ is not just a slogan, it’s a commitment to build the future of our movement together.”
The women’s committee co-chair Ilvana Smajlović emphasized that equality cannot be achieved without unity.
“We must show strength and solidarity,”
she said, calling on women and men to stand together in creating inclusive unions and workplaces.
IndustriALL president Marie Nilsson set the tone with a heartfelt reflection, sharing that her third grandchild, a girl, was born the day before her departure to Sydney.
“When she grows up, she will know that her grandmother stood on the barricades for her.”
Her words captured the spirit of what the day; courage, connection and the fight for a just and equal world for future generations.
Fighting for gender equality in our industries, Australia leads the way
Moderated by Jackie Woods of the Mining and Energy Union (MEU), this dynamic session brought together women from construction, mining, manufacturing, healthcare and textiles. They shared stories that reflected both the persistence of barriers and the power of union organizing to overcome them.
Jenny Kruschel of the Timber Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) highlighted how far women have come and how much work remains.
“Pay equity has been one of our great achievements, but we are still experiencing gaps. With the support of the Fair Work Commission, employers are now starting to accommodate the changes that make equality possible.”
“In my workplace there are 10 women out of 70,” said Clare Bailey from the MEU. “We need to normalise union membership and we need to normalise women being in this sector.”
Stacey Schinnerl from the Australian Workers Union (AWU), reflected on her own leadership journey:
“In my union, my gender is not a thing, but it’s not insignificant either. There are still men disturbed by my presence. I use that platform to advocate for women.”
For Nguyệt Nguyễn from the Timber Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU), union membership was life-changing:
“The union made me aware of my rights and since then, I’ve been determined to represent workers.”
Renee Portland from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), shared her pride in concrete progress:
“We have information sessions on PPE to make sure women are educated and equipped. The union makes that happen.”
Together, the panellists painted a picture of progress powered by persistence, of mentorships, visibility and a collective demand for equality in male-dominated industries. The outlook is bright, with opportunities emerging in clean energy and STEM.
“We must ensure the policies of tomorrow are written with women in mind,” one speaker said.
Organizing for a just future: power, justice and transformation
A powerful intergenerational session brought together IndustriALL’s women vice-presidents Christiane Benner, Roxanne Brown, Rose Omamo and Lucineide Varjão, to explore how gender equality must shape the future of work.
From the stage, Roxanne Brown, vice president of the USW, electrified the crowd:
“1,2,3 POWER! Do you feel powerful?” she called out, as hundreds of voices echoed back. “That feeling in your gut, that’s what we need to remember. That’s what our global labour movement is about. That’s what we have in IndustriALL.”
Her words captured the day’s heartbeat: the belief that when women organize, they don’t just change their workplaces, they change the world.
The vice presidents spoke about just transitions, digitalization and equality as the foundation of a fair future.
Christiane Benner, IG Metall president, Germany’s first woman to lead a major industrial union, spoke about transforming organizational culture.
“Gender equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a democracy issue,” she said. “When we share power, we build stronger unions that reflect the world we live in, not the one we inherited.”
From Kenya, Rose Omamo of AUKM reminded participants of the collective fight that unites men and women workers:
“We fight together, we win together. When women rise, our unions rise,” she said. “Equality is not about taking power away, it’s about building power together.”
And from Brazil, Lucineide Varjão of CNQ-CUT highlighted the importance of representation that reaches every woman:
“In Brazil, our women’s committees and collectives are how we make sure every woman, Afro-Brazilian, indigenous and working-class, is seen and heard. That’s how change becomes real.”
The vice presidents called for gender-transformative unions, ones that don’t just include women but empower them to lead. “We are standing on the shoulders of strong women,” one panellist said.
“A just future is only possible if it is equal.”
Mainstreaming gender and building safe supply chains
Moderated by Tomoko Nagashima, president of UA ZENSEN, Japan’s largest industrial union, the session explored how to make gender equality a cornerstone of global supply chains and industrial transitions. Representing 1.9 million workers across textiles, chemicals, energy and services, Tomoko underscored that mainstreaming gender is essential not only for equality but also for building sustainable industries and fair economies.
The session highlighted the textile, garment, dhoe and leather sector as a model for progress.
Zehra Khan of HBWWF, Pakistan, and Christina Hajagos-Clausen, IndustriALL director for the sector, presented the TGSL gender policy, which promotes equal rights, workplace safety and zero tolerance for gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). The policy demonstrates how collective action can turn principles into practice, protecting the most vulnerable and creating pathways for women’s leadership in production and negotiation.
From Türkiye, Fulya Pınar Özcan of Öz İplik İş and Heidi Lampinen of IF Metall, Sweden, shared how the Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with H&M has become a powerful tool to combat GBVH, strengthen industrial relations and ensure safe workplaces for more than a million workers in the supply chain.
Floor interventions reinforced that this work must extend across all sectors. Prihanani Boenadi of FSPMI, Indonesia, co-chair of the electronics sector, urged participants to stay vigilant: “We must keep fighting GBVH, every sector should align with the TGSL policy and apply its lessons.”
Corinne Scehwin of CFE-CGC Métallurgie, France, highlighted the often unseen pressures faced by women workers:
“Women carry a heavy mental burden that limits their ability to develop their careers. We must act to reduce this load if we want true equality.”
The discussion made clear that gender equality must be built into every part of the value chain, from raw materials to retail, ensuring that just transitions, human rights due diligence and industrial relations work hand in hand to deliver fairness, dignity and safety for all.
Mentoring women to build union power
The mentoring session stood out as one of the most inspiring moments of the conference, a living example of how solidarity across generations and continents can translate into real trade union power.
The session reflected the vision first set out at the 2019 Women’s Conference: that when women grow through mentorship, the entire movement grows with them.
The session brought powerful testimonies from mentors and mentees who spoke about how guidance, patience and trust can transform confidence into leadership.
From Peru, Wendy Carol Carbajal Leon shared how mentorship helped her understand her rights and the meaning of unionism:
“I was beginning to understand what it means to be in a union. Mentorship helped me recognise my rights, like our achievement of 90 minutes of breastfeeding time and gave me the strength to stand up for them.”
From Ghana, Agnes Ama Agamasu described how the experience redefined her role in the movement:
“I’ve learnt how to achieve my goals. I now stand as the youngest woman in my union and this has opened doors for young men and women alike. This programme has changed so much for me.”
Joyce Maku Appiah from Ghana, reflected on the reciprocal nature of the process:
“Being a mentor gave me structure. I realized I couldn’t be everything to my mentees, patience and listening are key. As a mentor, you are also mentored.”
From the United States, Nicole Fears and Dee Colbert of IAMAW presented the union’s LEADS mentoring programme, rooted in the principle of
“justice on the job and service to the community.”
“Gender equality strengthens our labour movement. We don’t just pass the torch, we light each other up.”
The discussion reaffirmed that mentorship is not an act of charity but a strategy for collective empowerment. It opens doors for women to lead, builds bridges between generations and transforms individual growth into organizational strength.
A movement united in purpose
The conference concluded with the presentation of IndustriALL’s draft Roadmap on gender equality for 2025–2029, which sets out clear priorities: increasing women’s participation and leadership, engaging men as allies, achieving pay equity, addressing unpaid care work, eliminating gender-based violence and harassment and integrating gender-transformative approaches into human rights due diligence and just transition processes.
The roadmap outlines practical steps, awareness-raising, training, developing tools and materials, building alliances and strengthening follow-up across sectors and will serve as the foundation for the next Women’s Committee to embed gender equality systematically into IndustriALL’s structures, policies and Action Plan.
In her closing remarks, Ilvana Smajlović spoke with emotion and gratitude, acknowledging the courage and conviction of all who took the stage. She reflected on the day’s powerful exchanges, calling it a moment of both strength and vulnerability. The tears shed, she said, were not a sign of weakness but of empathy and shared purpose. Women often put others first, but there are times when they must also put themselves first, to regain strength, to lead and to keep pulling others forward.
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Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017
P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348