Taking COSATU Today Forward, 25 July 2022
Norman Mampane
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#2022YearofWorkersParliament #COSATU holds a Special CEC this week #ClassStruggle #JustTransition #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
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Monday, 25 July 2022
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the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU settles blanket textile sector wage negotiations with a 7% - 9.11% increase
- South Africa
- SACP congratulates African Banyana Banyana on WAFCON victory
- SACP denounces the highest interest rate hike in two decades
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Burkina Faso: teacher trade unionists work for democracy despite numerous political crises
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACTWU settles blanket textile sector wage negotiations with a 7% - 9.11% increase
Andre Kriel, SACTWU General Secretary, 24 JULY 2022
The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has now also settled its 2022 wage negotiations in the Blankets textile sector.
It was settled after three rounds of negotiations.
The new wage increase for SACTWU's Blanket textile sector members will come into effect on 1 August 2022, which is the normal implementation date.
The signature processes for the written wage agreement for this new Blanket textile sector wage settlement was completed on Friday, 22 July 2022.
This new collective agreement for the Blanket textile sector is a 2 year agreement, effective from 1 August 2022 to 31July 2024.
It provides for wage increases of between 7% and 9.11%, as follows:
• For the Metro areas, an increase of 7% for each of the 2 years of the agreement;
• For the Non-metro areas, and increase of 9,05% for the first year and 9,11% for the second year.
This new collective agreement was successfully concluded under the dispute processes and procedures of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC), with employers represented by the South African Blankets Manufacturers' Employers Organisation (SABMEO).
In addition to the wage increases, this Blanket textile sector agreement also provides for the following improvements, amongst other:
• The equalisation of wages between metro and non-metro areas over the period of the agreement;
• A minimum period of three months’ work for workers employed on a contract, but not linked to short time or retrenchments.
• COVID-19 vaccination to remain voluntary in the sector, unless the Department of Employment & Labour introduces non-variable legislation (beyond the employers' control) which makes vaccination compulsory.
Negotiations in this sector commenced on the 5th of May 2022.
Final agreement was confirmed on Thursday 21 July 2022.
This now signed new collective agreement for the Blanket textile sector will be submitted to the Minister of Employment & Labour, with a request for its gazettal and extension to non-party employers.
Issued by
SACTWU
General Secretary
If further comment is required please contact SACTWU’s National Sector Co-ordinator for the Blanket textile sector, SACTWU's Gauteng Provincial Organiser, Mr Oupa Hadebe, on cell number 081 793 2746
South Africa
SACP congratulates African Banyana Banyana on WAFCON victory
24 July 2022
The South African Communist Party congratulates the South African Women's senior national football squad, Banyana Banyana, for winning the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Banyana Banyana beat Morocco 2-1 in the WAFCON final played on Saturday 23 July 2022.
Banyana Banyana's victory proves yet again that women are capable of achieving far more than the stereotypical notions have limited them, as well as uniting an entire nation and generating a true spirit of patriotism.
The further development of women's football is now long overdue. The SACP calls for professional development of women's football in South Africa and for adequate support of women's football along with all women's sports.
The beating of Morocco by Banyana Banyana further resonates with the South African people due to the state of Morocco's colonialism over Western Sahara. The SACP thus reiterates its solidarity with the people of Western Sahara against the occupation of their country by Morocco.
The SACP also calls on Morocco to end the occupation of Western Sahara. The people of Western Sahara have the right to self-determination, democratic sovereignty and participation in international activities like football, men and women. As long as Morocco occupies Western Sahara, the people of Western Sahara are unable to freely participate in sports.
By occupying Western Sahara, Morocco is violating many rights of the people of Western Sahara and deprives them of their rightful place in international activities, such as sport.
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SACP denounces the highest interest rate hike in two decades
22 July 2022
The South African Communist Party (SACP) denounces the decision by the South African Reserve Bank’s five-member Monetary Policy Committee to increase the country’s already high interest rate compared to many countries. On Thursday, 21 July 2022 the Reserve Bank increased the repurchase rate by 75 basis point. This raised the repurchase rate from 4,75 per cent to 5,5 per cent, compared to Australia (1,35 per cent), Britain (1,25 per cent), Denmark (–0,45), Japan (–0,1 per cent), the United States (1,75 per cent), Norway (1,25 per cent) and many other countries. The highest repurchase rate hike by the Reserve Bank in 20 years, since 2002 when the repo rate was hiked by 100 basis points, brings the prime rate to 9 per cent.
It is said the sky-rocketing interest rate hike in 20 years underlines the Reserve Bank’s determination “to tame rampant inflation and also signalling an acceleration in the pace of interest rate hikes” (Business Day, 21 July 2022: “Reserve Bank signals sharper rate hikes ahead as it confronts inflation”). This anti-people conservative monetary policy direction will negatively affect the national imperative to achieve inclusive economic growth by raising the cost of borrowing and capital.
With COVID-19 restrictions relaxed across the world, some social protection programmes that were adopted at the height of the pandemic have been withdrawn in many situations across the world. In our country, those affected include the millions who the South African Social Security Agency did not pay the Social Relief of Distress Grant after April 2022 following changes to the eligibility regulations for the grant or as a result of a failure to pay the grant. This negatively impacts local demand. At this moment, South Africa should move decisively towards a comprehensive social security, including a universal basic income grant.
Interest rate hikes that further suppress local demand as if it had not been affected already by a wide range of factors like the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in the current reality amount to firing blanks at inflation.
For South Africa to build national production, we need an accommodative interest rate policy that supports the productive sector.
Besides, the major underpinnings of the unfolding global cost of living crisis that mostly affects the workers and poor, with those deprived of access to the grant a typical example, is largely driven by exogenous factors—i.e., factors with an external origin and drivers.
For instances, the NATO-provoked war in Ukraine and NATO’s extraterritorial sanctions not only against Russia but also against Venezuela and other countries are in no small measure contributors to the global cost of living crisis. The crisis is also the hitting imperialist countries like Britain (Lancet, www.thelancet.com/public-health Vol. 7 June 2022: “The cost of living: an avoidable public health crisis”).
In the energy sector, Russia is the world’s major gas and third oil producer, while Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and is an oil producer of note. The extraterritorial sanctions by the United States-dominated NATO are a key driver of high oil prices and increases. The increases in oil and related fuel prices culminate in increased production and transport costs, which culminate, through the pricing mechanism, in increases in the prices of consumer goods and services.
Another major contributor to the breakdown of global production networks and supply chains, and the unfolding global cost of living crisis is the NATO-provoked war in Ukraine as well as NATO’s extraterritorial sanctions. This affects food, such as grain and cooking oil, and thereby contributed to increases in their prices.
The global cost of living crisis is also driven by the capitalist system through its profits before people and profits before the environment accumulation regime. It is this that underpins the problem of climate change, which negatively impacts food production and contributes to rising food prices.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP
EST. 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA | CPSA
1921–2021: 100 YEARS OF UNBROKEN STRUGGLE
PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT
SOCIALISM IS THE FUTURE—BUILD IT NOW!
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Burkina Faso: teacher trade unionists work for democracy despite numerous political crises
democracy, 25 July 2022
Following a series of coups d'état in Burkina Faso, the most recent of which took place on 24 January 2022, the Syndicat national des enseignants du secondaire et du supérieur (SNESS - National Union of Secondary and Higher Education Teachers), with financial support from the Canadian Teachers' Federation, organised a seminar for its members to discuss the causes and consequences of states of emergency such as coups d'état.
On 22 and 23 March 2022 in Koudougou, SNESS teachers also drew up a roadmap for their National Trade Union Bureau for the next three years of transition to a new constitutional normal in the country.
Major causes of coups in Burkina Faso
The main causes of coups d’état in Burkina Faso identified during the workshops are:
- Poor political governance.
- Imperialism, which always wants to impose leaders in its pay.
- Poor economic governance.
- Personal ambitions.
Consequences of coups d'état in Burkina Faso
The participants also stressed the political, economic and social consequences.
At the trade union level, they recognised that the curtailment of freedoms linked to the coups d'état also affected the means of action of the trade unions, in particular marches and meetings and even the right to strike, resulting in a delay in demands, sometimes a questioning of the gains made and a degree of lethargy in certain trade unions.
Nevertheless, they established that coups d'état can remind us, as in September 2015, of the importance of the fundamental principles of unity and solidarity between unions.
The importance of trade unionism in times of crisis
The participants also concluded that during states of emergency, trade unions must continue to promote the interests of workers, and the SNESS in particular must continue to promote the interests of secondary and higher education teachers.
Particular emphasis was placed on the trade union role of monitoring and acting as a counterbalance, countering abuses of power, including the defence of gains made, the pursuit of pending demands and, where necessary, the formulation of new demands.
To this end, the following activities could be organised:
- Raising awareness, training and informing activists and public opinion; and
- Conducting a reflection on and strategising for a return to the rule of law.
After this initial workshop in Koudougou, SNESS General Secretary Anatole Zongo stated that it is necessary to extend it to the 13 regions of Burkina Faso in order to inform primary school teachers. Some new teachers have little information on current events and political, economic and trade union issues.
He went on to explain that “we can no longer hold training sessions everywhere because of the insecurity. Only three places remain possible: Ouagadougou, Koudougou and Bobodioulasso. We will only be able to hold the workshop in other regions once the country’s security situation has been stabilised. We hope to be able to do this in the years to come.”
When asked about the strategies to be implemented in order to ensure a return to the rule of law, Mr. Zongo noted that if trade union leaders are obliged to restrict their expression, particularly because they are being bugged, they must “challenge the government, continue to criticise, through the press, through general assemblies, so that everyone knows that democracy cannot be trampled on. Unfortunately, we see that writing to the press is not a strategy that pays off enough. We come up against the fact that marches and meetings are currently prohibited. However, it is walking the streets, in the capital and in the cities, that is the key.”
Furthermore, he emphasized, budgetary restrictions at the level of the Ministry of Education have taken away some of the union's possibilities for action. In addition, he noted that “a number of people have lost interest in trade unionism because of the situation. People are afraid of sanctions against themselves and their families.”
Strengthening relations between unions
He also stressed the positive fact that the coup had strengthened relations between the six national central trade union organisations and the autonomous unions.
Thus, the Coordination nationale des syndicats de l’Éducation (CNSE - National Coordination of Education Unions) now speaks with one voice, he noted, adding that the unions celebrated May Day together, with a CNSE press conference.
For him, the roadmap should not be limited to the SNESS, because otherwise it will not be effective enough. “We must also involve other sectors, such as health. We need to raise awareness among comrades about the coup. We are going to focus our awareness-raising activities on that. Each union has a platform of demands submitted to the ministry in charge.”
He went on to emphasise that it is necessary to "avoid sinking into lethargy, and maintain activities. Otherwise, it will take time to wake people up. How do you keep people awake? We need a union of unions.”
The importance of democracy in the union
In terms of the persistence and renewal of democracy in Burkina Faso, Mr. Zongo highlighted the fact that the union's democratic functioning sets an example: “We cannot take decisions without convening the national bureau. We always consult the general secretaries of the 13 regions beforehand. Then we provide everyone with the information in the form of a summary via WhatsApp. We go for what the majority wants.”
The other aspect is the holding of union councils, he also argued. “Beyond the 13 general secretaries of the regions, there are the general secretaries of the provinces. The Congress - which will be held in September - will also be a space for open discussion, and candidates for the various positions in the union can put themselves forward. Delegations are made according to the union's Articles of Association.”
He concluded by assuring that “operating in a democratic way can contribute to establishing democracy in society”.
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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