Taking COSATU Today Forward, 3 June 2024

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY It’s June, Youth  Month! #Back2Basics #ElijahBarayiBrigades #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

3 June 2024

“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”

Organize at every workplace and demand Personal Protective Equipment Now!

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Join COSATU NOW!

 

Contents                      

o   Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!

Ø  COSATU celebrates President Cyril Ramaphosa's historic signing of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill (Two Pot Pension Reforms)

Ø South Africa

Ø  COSATU statement on the successful holding of our 7th democratic national and provincial elections

Ø  International-Workers’ Solidarity!

Ø  IndustriALL executive committee calls for the continued fight for workers’ rights

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics 

COSATU celebrates President Cyril Ramaphosa's historic signing of the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill (Two Pot Pension Reforms)

Matthew Parks, COSATU Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator, 01 June 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) celebrates President Cyril Ramaphosa’s historic signing of the Revenue Laws Amendment (RLA) Bill, one of two progressive amendment bills that will enable the long sought Two Pot Pension Reforms to take place on 1 September 2024. 

The other Bill, the Pension Funds Amendment (PFA) Bill, has been adopted by Parliament and is awaiting the President’s assent.

COSATU has been engaging on the Two Pot Pension Reforms with Treasury and Parliament since May 2020.  We are pleased that whilst we may not have achieved everything we proposed, that not only have we reached consensus on the key matters but legislation providing for the reforms has been adopted by Parliament and there is agreement between government, Parliament, COSATU and the pension funds for implementation on 1 September 2024. 

We welcome the continuous support we have received from the African National Congress led government.  Without a doubt, workers have a firm and reliable ally in the ANC.

Workers are highly indebted due to slow economic growth, the rising costs of living and having to support relatives in an economy battling a 41% unemployment rate.  The current pension laws are excessively inflexible only allowing workers access to their pension funds upon retirement, losing their job or resignation.  Consequently, many workers opt to resign to cash out their entire pension funds leaving them unemployed and with no savings left.

The Two Pot Reforms provide a progressive compromise and fair balance where workers will have access to a portion of their pension funds whilst remaining employed.  This will allow workers to access 10% up to R30 000 of their existing savings when the law comes into effect on 1 September 2024 and from then on once a year, access to a third of future savings.  Workers will retain access to existing savings.  These will enable workers to remain employed, receive the equivalent of a thirteenth cheque on 1 September and once a year going forward and have more savings when they retire.

We welcome critical amendments made to the Bill by Parliament to ensure all workers, public and private sector, are included in the Two Pot Pension Reforms. 

COSATU is working closely with government and the pension funds through Nedlac to ensure a smooth implementation on 1 September.  This includes ensuring the President assents to the PFA Bill, Treasury promulgates, SARS adjusts its tax systems, and the pension funds amend their rules and put in place the necessary education and administrative measures for workers seeking this relief.

We are confident that we are on track and all deadlines will be met to ensure implementation on 1 September 2024. 

Workers have been waiting for this relief since 2020. 

We will not disappoint them.

Issued by COSATU

South Africa

COSATU statement on the successful holding of our 7th democratic national and provincial elections

Matthew Parks, COSATU Acting National Spokesperson & Parliamentary Coordinator, 02 June 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions congratulates all South Africans who contributed to the successful holding of our 7th democratic elections.  We applaud the tireless efforts of the staff of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Home Affairs, the media fraternity and countless other workers who ensured South African maintained its internationally renowned reputation for holding free and fair elections. 

The nation is indebted for your service.

COSATU is humbled by the faith millions of voters have once again placed in our dear ally, the African National Congress (ANC), which whilst not achieving an outright majority has emerged as the largest party nationally, with an outright majority in 6 provinces, as the leading party in the Northern Cape, and as the second and third largest parties in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Whilst we campaigned for an outright majority for the ANC and hoped to avoid the instability that often accompanies coalition governments, we accept the results as the true reflection of the will of the people.  The fact that the ANC has once again emerged as the largest political party across the nation and has been given a clear mandate to form government, is a testimony to its historical and leadership role in society.  It is confirmation that ordinary South Africans have entrusted it to continue upon its transformation mandate and to deliver a better for all, in particular for working-class communities. 

COSATU congratulates the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) as well as our Affiliates on a well-run campaign that overcame great odds.  We thank millions of workers, shop stewards and organisers who tirelessly crisscrossed the nation mobilising millions of workers to turn out in their numbers in support of the ANC.  We are grateful for their efforts and humbled by the confidence of workers and their families.

We reject with contempt the nonsensical attacks on the IEC and the legitimacy of the elections by some desperate politicians.  It is clear to all sober persons that the elections were free and fair.  COSATU joins millions of ordinary South Africans in defence of our hard-won constitutional democracy.  We will not allow anyone to threaten it.

Any threats to sow violence and instigate criminal activities must be dealt with decisively and with the full force of the law by the SAPS, SANDF and State Security Agency.  No space must be given to any political vandals who seek to plunge the nation into violence or anarchy.  We will not allow a repeat of the July 2021 criminal violence.  Law enforcement must be vigilant and ruthless.

Those who have grievances with the running of various voting stations have legal channels to pursue these.  Equally the IEC must reflect on stations which experienced challenges with long queues, offline scanners etc. and do better in future.  Consideration must be given to extending voting times in future and mobilising more voters to vote during the special voting days to ease the pressures on election day.

COSATU will be tabling a petition to the incoming Administration and Parliament to declare future election days as non-trading public holidays where only essential workplaces may open to ensure all workers are afforded their constitutional right to vote.  We cannot condone the continued violation of thousands of workers’ right to vote by delinquent employers. 

We must be concerned as a nation by declining voter turnout levels, in particular amongst the youth.  Equally we should be worried by the number of political parties mobilising on the basis of racial, ethnic and religious identity.  We ignore these perils at the risk of the nation’s stability.  Africa is littered with the consequences of politicians who dabbled in ethnic mobilisation leaving thousands in body bags. 

Now that the elections have concluded, COSATU will be engaging with our Affiliates, as well as our allies, the ANC and the SACP on their principles that must guide the formation of the 7th administration.  The incoming government’s mandate must be anchored upon the ANC’s elections manifesto, the defence of our constitutional democracy and the rule of law, respecting the labour rights of workers and providing relief to the poor, growing the economy and creating jobs, tackling crime and corruption, building a capacitated developmental state, overcoming our legacies of poverty and inequality. 

These principles are sacrosanct and cannot be compromised.

We are confident that we will comply with the constitutional timeframes for the election and inauguration of the President and the appointment of the 7th administration.  We do not doubt that the incoming government will be led by the President of the African National Congress, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.

The results provide a sobering reminder for the ANC and the Alliance to continue on the path of renewal, of cleansing the nation of the cancer of corruption, of slashing unemployment and improving the lives of ordinary South Africans.  We dare not ignore the drop-in support for the ANC at the ballot box and the message voters have sent to the ANC. 

They want and correctly expect us to do better. 

We must not fail them.

COSATU looks forward to working with the incoming 7th administration led by President Ramaphosa and the ANC to deliver that better life for all that South Africa deserves. 

We will continue to work with Members of Parliament to hold the executive accountable and ensure the state fulfils its electoral mandate.

Issued by COSATU

International-Solidarity   

IndustriALL executive committee calls for the continued fight for workers’ rights

30 May, 2024

Threats to freedom of association, the right to strike, ongoing wars and organizing were some of the issues on the agenda at IndustriALL’s executive committee meeting in Geneva on 23-24 May. 

In her first opening address as IndustriALL’s first female president, Marie Nilsson from Swedish union IF Metall, reminded the executive that even though challenges like technological changes, wars, threats to democracy, climate change and artificial intelligence may seem worn out at times, it is important that unionists continue to talk about it until workers feel secure in the transition. She stressed that there is no stronger force for democracy, freedom and sustainability than organized workers in free democratic trade unions. 
 

“Organizing workers is our most important task. In all factories, in all mines, in all laundries, our comrades should be asked- ‘do you want to join a union?’ The answer is yes, in every single workplace. There is nothing more important for us because a low level of organization is a problem for us. An attack on your rights is an attack on mine. This is the base of our federation and the foundation of our solidarity,” 

says Marie Nilsson. 

Newly elected vice president Christiane Brenner, from German union IG Metall, hightlighted the importance of freedom of association:

“The most valuable thing we have is freedom of association and union busting is clear to us. We can’t tolerate companies fighting against our basic right.” 

 
The executive committee highlighted global hotspots of workers’ rights and trade union violations including Ukraine where the government is using the war as an excuse to weaken labour law and abandon social dialogue. In Argentina, President Milei’s labour reform proposes to eliminate basic labour and social rights. In Myanmar, through IndustriALL pressure, many leading brands sourcing in Myanmar have left or are in the process of leaving the country. Discussions on Belarus’ continued disregard for workers’ rights and the arrest of countless trade unionists will continue at this year’s International Labour Conference, starting on 3 June.
 
On the right to strike, IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie, said: 

“The right to strike is rooted in international law, yet for almost a decade, employers’ representatives have cast doubt on this essential right at the ILO. Late last year, the matter was referred to the International Court of Justice.
 
“While we support the case and are confident of a worker-friendly outcome, we don’t need a court to confirm that the right to strike is fundamental for workers to get a fair deal and democracy at work.”

 
The executive also heard about the breakthrough for the textile and garment industry in Cambodia, IndustriALL is signing legally binding agreements with global brands, for the first time achieving brand-supported collective bargaining agreements in the sector. 
 

“This is a significant breakthrough supported by the Cambodian unions that will bring sustainable development to everyone in the industry. The agreement will hold everyone responsible and promotes social dialogue, which will mean increased competitiveness, better wages and better working conditions,”

said Athit Kong president of CCAWDU. 
 
Shawn Fain, UAW president, thanked IndustriALL for the support during the organizing campaigns at Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. 

“Working class people have been left behind and we need to bargain good contracts and organizing will follow.” 

 
Reporting from the women's committee held on 21 May, Ilvana Smajlovic, co-chair of the women’s committee, said that platforms like the women’s committee made it possible to raise issues like menopause, AI and collective bargaining as they have a huge impact on women. 
 
AI is set to have a massive impact on workers and unions. IndustriALL’s 4.0 expert group will focus on policy development that will assist and advise in developing policies related to digitization and AI. The group will also focus on resource creation which includes development of a practical policy paper that addresses algorithm management and data privacy, skills and reskilling, occupational health and safety, redistribution of wealth and productivity, and organizing. The Global Multinational Committee, previously called Global Multinational Companies Policy Committee, have commenced its evaluation on the  implementation and monitoring GFAs and enhancing trade union networks. 
 
The June 2023 executive committee agreed to co-opt the youth as observers for future executive committee meetings until the Congress in 2025. Laya Borjal Ferrer from Associated Labour Unions (ALU-TUCP) in Philippens said:

“Thank you for allowing youth into Exco. It is important to have youth involved in AI discussions as our generation will be greatly affected.” 

 
In order to confront global capital and build a strong and campaigning global union the executive committee resolved to release funding, over a three year period, for training for organizing and execution of corporate campaigns. 
 
IndustriALL receives a large portion of project funding from external donors however, due to the war in Ukraine, political in many of the donor countries and fluctuations in exchange rates, project funding to IndustriALL has decreased. The executive committee resolved that IndustriALL applies for funding with traditional donors, national and multinational agencies, companies and philanthropic organizations if the funding is considered to correspond with IndustriALL objectives and the donor considered to be non-controversial.
 
The Executive Committee adopted two resolutions: on South Korea calling on the Korean Government and National Assembly to revise the law to implement ILO core conventions 87 and 98, and a resolution on Palestine: we stand for peace and justice.

____________________

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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