40th COSATU Anniversary

40th COSATU Anniversary

“The working class is revolutionary or it is nothing.” – Karl Marx –

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), a federation of various labour unions, was established on 1 December 1985 in Durban. It was among the fastest growing labour federations in the world. This year COSATU celebrates 40 years as a trade union and 35 years in the Tripartite Alliance with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). The alliance remains stable despite the SACP’s disagreement with the ANC’s inability to reconfigure the alliance, as well as the engagement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Government of National Unity (GNU), which the SACP views as the class enemy of the national democratic revolution. The SACP emphasised its resolution at its last congress to go it alone in the next elections.

On 30 Nov 1985, 33 unions met at the University of Natal for talks on forming a federation of trade unions. This followed four years of unity talks between competing unions and federations that were opposed to apartheid and were “committed to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa”. COSATU was officially established on 1 December 1985. Among the founding unions were the affiliates of the Federation of South African Trade Unions (FOSATU), the small National Federation of Workers, and some independent unions, notably the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Elijah Barayi was the organisation’s first president and Jay Naidoo the first General Secretary.

On 1 December 1985, COSATU held a mass rally in Durban, wherein its President, Elijah Barayi, was carried shoulder high by workers. In his address, as the President of the federation, he drew thunderous applause in Xhosa, which was translated into Sotho, English and Afrikaans – since many Coloured workers from the Cape are Afrikaans-speaking – he affirmed the workers’ demands and aspirations and demanded the end of the emergency, withdrawal of troops from the townships and the abolition of the passes. For Barayi, “If that does not take place, we will burn the passes of the black man”.

Barayi dismissed with contempt the argument that international sanctions should not be imposed on South Africa because they would be more harmful to blacks than whites. Barayi maintained that “Blacks have starved since 1652 (when the whites started to settle in South Africa). COSATU is therefore in favour of sanctions.”

The ANC’s view was that “the launch of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), during the last days of November, was historic in many respects. Durban – the scene of the 1973–1974 strikes which ushered in the new trade union and working class militancy – was chosen as a venue. … This was a product of hard work – four years of ‘unity talks’ and much more; hard slogiing, day-to-day explanations, and mobilisation of the people on bread and butter (or, to be more pricise, milies and sour milk) issues.”

In welcoming the formation of COSATU, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU) stated, “South Africa’s future lies in the hands of its workers. Only they together with progressive people of all races can liberate us from racial hatred, inequality, class exploitation and national oppression. Our revolution requires a united and strong trade union movement, determined to satisfy demand for higher wages, good working conditions, removal of colour bars, equal opportunities to work and the achievement of complete emancipation.

According to SACTU, “The new federation, COSATU, can and will fulfil these aims. It must become a truly democratic centre of organised activity for all workers who are determined to liberate our country from its existing oppressive and exploitative social system … The Federation, in unison with the national liberation movement and its allies, is called upon to perform an historic task by calling on its members and the organised workers to participate fully in the struggle for liberation, social justice and equality.”

Emphasis was placed on unity, that unity was the great strength of the working class, the workers’ answer to the power, wealth, greed and racial arrogance of the white racist regime, employers and most of the white workers. Analysis was that the regime and employers used the poisonous instrument of racism. Therefore, the fight against racism, for unity of black and white workers, for unity between trade unions and the people’s organisations was the key to winning the unity of the working class and the people against the white racist regime and capital. “United we stand, divided we fall!” was a historic trade union slogan.

The SACP gave an analysis that “all signs are that COSATU, with its able, dedicated leaders, will be able to mobilise and organise the workers of South Africa and help them to meet the challenges that will confront them. All members of the Communist Party must give their utmost in support of COSATU. Our oppressed people are conducting a brave and determined struggle against white supremacy, racial tyranny, discrimination, capitalist exploitation and national oppression … Long live COSATU! Long live the unity of the exploited workers and oppressed people.”

The COSATU congress decided in 2012 to affiliate with the class-struggle oriented World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), while maintaining its membership within the International Trade Union Confederation. On 5–6 May 1987, a strike as part of COSATU’s Living Wage Campaign was held coinciding with 1987 Whites only General Election. More than 2.5 million workers took part in the stay-away. In the early hours of 7 May 1987, two bombs exploded near the support columns in the basement of the federation headquarters, COSATU House. The resulting damage caused the building to be declared unsafe.

At the second national congress held from 14–18 July 1987, the Freedom Charter was adopted by the federation after the resolution was proposed by the National Union of Mineworkers. At the third congress held from 12–16 July 1989, a resolution was adopted that called on the members of COSATU to join a campaign of “sustained action” against apartheid, in the week leading up to the 1989 General Election of South Africa. On 26 July 1989, COSATU, the United Democratic Front and the Mass Democratic Movement, instigated the National Defiance Campaign, in which facilities reserved for whites were invaded, and organisation that had been banned by the state declared themselves “unbanned”.

Following the launch of COSATU, the emphasis was that “the working class as the most exploited and the most numerous should necessarily constitute the mass base of every democratic organisation. The participation of the trade unions in the broad democratic struggle will deepen and extend the political consciousness of the workers and their role in the revolution. Distancing the trade unions from the mass democratic struggle hinders the political development of the workers. The democratic principles as espoused by the leadership of COSATU are in line with the revolutionary fighting mood of our people. It is only the working class in alliance with other democratic forces that can ensure the destruction of apartheid. It is the duty of the trade unions to take advantage of the present crisis and the workers’ anger and rouse the people to inflict the final death blow on the Botha regime” (T.B. Fulani, The African Communist, No. 106, 1986).

Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation Towards Socialism!

Sources:
Wikipedia.
South African History Online (SAHO).
Editorial, “SACTU Welcomes COSATU”, Sechaba, January 1986.
R.S. Nyameko, “A Giant Is Born”, The African Communist, No. 105, Second Quarter 1986.
T.B. Fulani, “The Effects of the South African Economic Crisis on the Workers”, The African Communist, No. 106, Third Quarter 1986.

Castro Khwela
Good evening fellow Compatriots!