Taking COSATU Today Forward, 21 June 2024
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #ClassStruggle |
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
Friday, 21 June 2024
‘Building a strong and united COSATU in mobilizing for the ANC electoral victory”
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize or Starve!
Contents
o Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Media Alert: COSATU scheduled to hold a post Central Executive Committee (CEC) media briefing on Monday, 24 June 2024
o South Africa
- COSATU welcomes the appointment of Monyatso oa Mahlatsi as Free State MEC of Health
International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- UKRAINE: I witnessed resilience in the face of conflict
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Media Alert: COSATU scheduled to hold a post Central Executive Committee (CEC) media briefing on Monday, 24 June 2024
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 20 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) will hold a media briefing on Monday, 24 June 2024, to communicate the outcomes of its ordinary Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting. The three-day meeting, which took place from 18 to 20 June discussed organisational, political, and socio-economic issues affecting workers and the working class in general.
It also reflected on the results of the recent general elections and the formation of the government of national unity (GNU).
The details of the media briefing are as follows:
• Date : 24 June 2024
• Time : 11h00
• Venue : COSATU House, 110 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein.
All members of the media are invited to the briefing.
Issued by COSATU
For more information please contact:
Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)
Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za
Cell: 079 287 5788
South Africa
COSATU welcomes the appointment of Monyatso oa Mahlatsi as Free State MEC of Health
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 21 June 2024
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is beyond proud that one of our own has been named Free State MEC of Health.
COSATU Free State Provincial Secretary, Monyatso Viceroy Mahlatsi, was appointed the province’s MEC of Health by newly sworn-in Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae on Thursday.
Mahlatsi became provincial secretary in 2014 after spending years as an organiser. A son of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, Mahlatsi always advocated and raised issues affecting communities across the Free State, particularly in rural areas.
He has been a relentless champion of workers, from municipal workers demanding to be paid their salaries to ensuring that water is provided to all households.
We trust he will continue to wage the working-class struggle in his new deployment, particularly as the health system prepares to implement the National Health Insurance.
The Federation is pleased that Premier Letsoha-Mathae has recognised in Mahlatsi what we have known all along; he is a hardworking, humble individual of great integrity who always worked for the unity of COSATU and raised the voice of workers. We wish him all the best for his future endeavour.
COSATU commends Premier Letsoha-Mathae for staying true to the principle of our ally, the ANC, of including the Alliance in its decision-making and activities, and those of the state.
It is critical that the Free State Government move with speed to deal with the province's many challenges from unpaid municipal workers to struggling public and municipal services, endemic corruption to deteriorating roads and high school levels of unemployment.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
UKRAINE: I witnessed resilience in the face of conflict
20 June, 2024
I recently visited Ukraine and, while I didn't witness much of the devastation firsthand, my meetings with our affiliates and discussions about the abhorrent consequences of the Russian invasion revealed a stark reality. Over 6 million Ukrainians have fled the country, with hopes that most will one day return. Inside Ukraine, nearly 6 million people are displaced, seeking safety within their own borders.
Together with an International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) delegation led by General Secretary Luc Triangle we visited Ukraine on 14-15 May 2024 to reaffirm the global trade union movement’s support of workers and their unions in the country. The group included Christy Hoffman (General Secretary UNI-Global Union), and Paul Nowak (General Secretary TUC-UK).
Trade union delegation ITUC, UNI InsutriALL and TUC with president of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine
Ukrainian workers are suffering. They've lost jobs, incomes, and homes. Families are torn apart, fleeing both within and outside Ukraine. With all this, they are also defending their country.
Attacks on coal mines and power facilities are blatant acts of terrorism aimed at crippling Ukraine's infrastructure. In Kyiv, we visited a thermal power plant that had been bombed to pieces just one month prior to our arrival. This stark reminder underscores the Russian strategy of targeting critical infrastructure to make life as difficult as possible for the Ukrainian population. The destruction of power plants is a deliberate attempt to plunge the population into darkness and suffering. The intention behind these attacks is clear and malicious
Wall stretching hundreds of meters, filled with pictures of those killed since 2014
In Kyiv, life almost seems normal on the surface. Shops are open, and people go about their day. However, a closer look reveals the underlying tension and preparedness for conflict. Before you arrive, you must install an Air Raid Alarm application that sends notifications of potential attacks, prompting immediate shelter. Statues and artworks, symbols of cultural heritage, are protected, highlighting the cultural risks at stake. In Maidan Square, flags planted in the ground commemorate each person who has died, put there by families who have lost their loved ones, creating a powerful and heartbreaking display. A wall stretches for hundreds of meters, filled with pictures of those killed since 2014, underscoring that this war has been ongoing for much longer than the past two years.
The parliament building and surrounding homes are barricaded with sandbags, a stark reminder of the constant threat and the necessity to be prepared for anything. This sight provides a clear understanding of the level of expectation and readiness for potential attacks.
Flags planted in the ground to remember lost ones in Maiden Square
The human cost is shocking. Official numbers of the dead range, but locals believe the toll is much higher than what is being reported, possibly over 100,000. Each flag in Maidan Square represents a life lost, a family shattered.
Ukraine’s air defence is not strong, enough and the threat of attacks is constant. During our visit, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Kiev, and there were no attacks, which must have felt to Ukrainians like a brief pause in this continuous assault. Usually 3 to 4 alarms a day would go off and people would have to find shelter.
Children's hospital
Mostly, life in Kyiv functions like normal, but our visit to a children's hospital revealed the harsh realities of the war. We saw children arriving without legs or arms, some traumatized and paralyzed, not from physical injuries, but from the sheer psychological impact of the conflict. Speaking with kids from Kharkiv, where some of the hardest battles are raging, was a sobering experience. It was a terrible wake-up call for anyone who might not fully grasp the horrors that Ukrainians are enduring.
The unions that we visited were incredibly appreciative of our presence. They saw us as brave for coming, though our brief 36-hour visit was nothing compared to what they have to deal with every day. The courage and composure of these union leaders were inspiring. Despite everything, they remain focused and determined, knowing exactly what they need to do to support their members and their country.
Lesia Semeniaka International Officer of Atomprofspilka with Atle Høie during his visit
The unions' resilience is matched by their pragmatism. They understand the necessity of keeping the conflict visible on the global stage, pleading for continued support. They are not asking for pity but for solidarity and practical help. Their ultimate goal is to win the war, to ensure that Ukraine's sovereignty is respected and upheld.
If we allow Russia to annex territories recognized by the United Nations as part of Ukraine, we set a dangerous precedent. Where do we draw the line next time? The strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people is a testament to their firm spirit. They are fighting not just for their country, but for the principles of freedom and sovereignty that should be upheld worldwide.
Throughout our discussions, we addressed the implementation of the new worker-hostile labour legislation and the abolition of social dialogue. Everyone we spoke with, agreed that new labour legislation cannot be implemented without the involvement of workers and their unions. However, the government canceled our meeting at the last minute, avoiding the need to explain why they are proceeding without such crucial involvement.
On our 20-hour train ride back to Poland, the train was filled with women because men are not allowed to leave Ukraine. They spoke of needing a break from the constant fear and hardship. Their stories were a reminder of the emotional and psychological toll of this war.
What we saw just scratches the surface. When you see the kids and what they’ve had to endure at such a young age, you realize this is just the tip of the iceberg, and it really gets to you. It was hard to sleep on that train. Besides the constant passport control, the images in your head make it difficult to process everything, and we didn’t even visit the front line.
My visit to Ukraine was a sobering reminder of the profound human cost of this conflict, but most of all it reinforced my belief that war has only losers and must be avoided. We must continue to keep Ukraine in our thoughts and on our agendas, ensuring that the sacrifices of its people are not forgotten, and that their fight for freedom is supported. The bravery and resilience of Ukrainian workers and their unions are nothing short of extraordinary, and their struggle is one that demands our support.
__________________________
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