Taking COSATU Today Forward, 27 January 2026 #Back2SchoolCampaign #Right2LearnCampaign
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Back2SchoolCampaign #Cosatu40 #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward
‘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
27 January 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU Eastern Cape outraged by the senseless killing of teachers at Ntabankulu
- South Africa
- COSATU Johannesburg on recent media reports on the ANC Greater Johannesburg outcomes of its elective congress
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Win for Turkish metal workers
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU Eastern Cape outraged by the senseless killing of teachers at Ntabankulu
Mkhawuleli Maleki, COSATU Eastern Cape Provincial Secretary, 26 January 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the Eastern Cape has received the news of three female teachers killed in Ntabankulu with great shock and a deep sense of sadness.
The dreadful shooting that resulted in the killing of three harmless and innocent souls happened at Ntabankulu Senior Primary School. Other teachers, learners and support staff were subjected to traumatic experience coupled with panic. They ran in different directions for safety.
This incident has turned the spotlight to absence of safety in many schools. COSATU is making a call to government that safety in schools must be prioritised. Schools must be safer environment for learning and teaching, a conducive environment for all who operate in that space to do their best.
COSATU condemns the usage of weapons to resolve misunderstandings and conflicts. Tighter control of guns in our society must be implemented.
The community around the school where many learners are drawn from is still reeling from shock as it has been taken aback by the incident. We are encouraged by the visit of the MEC for Education, Honourable Fundile Gade and other high-ranking government officials as well as the psycho-social support services offered by the provincial government.
As further investigation into the incident is underway, we call upon all the stakeholders to play meaningful roles in ensuring that normality is restored at the school and necessary safety measures are put in place.
These three teachers were not just educators, they belonged to families, they were also role models, mentors and community builders. This makes their deaths a huge loss to the society.
The federation of the workers expresses sincere deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to bereaved families of the three teachers, colleagues, learners and all affected by this sad loss.
Issued by COSATU Eastern Cape
COSATU Johannesburg on recent media reports on the ANC Greater Johannesburg outcomes of its elective congress
Amos Monyela, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, 26 January 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Johannesburg wishes to indicate that COSATU formed part of the 16th Regional Conference held at Cedarwoods Conference Centre from 3 to 5 December 2025.
COSATU formed part of the collective of the electoral commission that observed the process and indeed indicated to the delegates present that the elections were run fairly. It therefore comes as a surprise that this same conference and its elected leadership are now facing claims that seek to destabilise the democratic process that took place.
The leadership that emerged is that of the wish and mandate of the voting delegates that were in attendance.
We call upon members of our MDM structure to remain united behind the democratically elected ANC leadership collective in Greater Johannesburg. We confirm that the election process was free and fair.
We hope that the ANC’s internal interventions and processes will be fair, transparent and in line with organisational principles, devoid of narrow factional motivations.
As COSATU we will continue to work in the Alliance with all its partners as we continue to focus on the core pillars of the National Democratic Revolution.
We call for unity in defence of Democratic Centralism and the NDR.
Issued by COSATU Gauteng
International-Solidarity
Win for Turkish metal workers
22 January, 2026
After months of negotiations in Türkiye's metal industry, tens of thousands of workers secured major gains, with average increases of 31.15 per cent in the first six months and 47.81 per cent in the first year of the 2025–2027 agreement.
The group collective bargaining agreement process was kicked off between three IndustriALL affiliates, Türk Metal, Birleşik
Metal-İş, Özçelik-İş and the Turkish Metal Industries Employers' Association (MESS) on 13 October 2025. Following multiple sessions, without a positive outcome, a statement of disagreement was drawn up in December and the three unions decided to go on strike
on 20 January this year.
Immediately after the strike decision, the three unions received an invitation from MESS, which started 21 January and ended up on 22 January 2026 with a victory for metal workers. The agreement has been signed by all the three unions.
The agreement covers:
For the first six-month period, hourly wages below 140 TL/hour (US$ 3) will be topped up by 10 TL/hour(US$0.23), not exceeding 140 TL/hour(US$3). Afterwards, a flat rate of 17.61 TL/hour(US$0.41) will be added after a 20 per cent increase to all wages. This
increase corresponds to an average of 28.10 per cent of the basic wage.
After 1 March (for the second six-month period of our agreement), a 13 per cent increase will be applied. However, if the six-month inflation rate exceeds 13 per cent, the resulting inflation rate will be applied.
In the third six-month period of our agreement, the increase will be inflation plus 1.5 percentage points.In the final six-month period, the increase will be based on the inflation rate.
On 1 September 2025, the increase rate, including social allowances, was 31.15 per cent.
This wage will increase to a net 79,500 TL (US$ 1,850)on 1 March 2026. As of 1 March 2026, there will have been a cumulative increase of 44.76 per cent in wages alone.
Social benefits have been increased by 75 per cent for Eid al-Adha and 50 per cent for other social benefits in the first year of the agreement. In the second year , they will increase in line with the annual inflation rate. Together with social benefits, a
cumulative annual increase of 47.81 per cent has been achieved.
In the meantime, all the concession proposals made by MESS have been withdrawn.
Industriall Europe, general secretary, Judith Kirton-Darling said:
“At a time when workers suffer from lack of purchasing power due to the economic difficulties, this win demonstrates how union struggle brings achievements to workers. Congratulations to the three Turkish metal affiliates.”
IndustriALL Global Union, assistant general secretary, Kemal Özkan, said:
“This is a huge win thanks to the unity, determination and struggle by metalworkers and their unions. Our Turkish metal affiliates have shown an excellent example by working together, supporting each other and fighting back together. Bravo.”
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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