NEHAWU CEC STATEMENT

NEHAWU convened the third Central Executive Committee of the 10^th Congress on the 8-9^th December 2015. The CEC reflected on the international and national political contexts, as well as on progress in the implementation of all the pillars of our four year programme of action.

International assessment

We emerge from this CEC fully conscious of the fact that the balance of class forces internationally remains decisively in favour of monopoly capital or imperialism. This is despite the emergence of the China-led BRICS and features of multi-polarity in the world order. This was yet another CEC of the 10^th Congress where we met against the background of the persisting crisis of global capitalism and a world that is afflicted by imperialist aggression and terrorist atrocities.

The Arab Peninsula and North Africa, a region which only recently saw an unprecedented upsurge in mass uprisings, has now exploded into a theatre of war, especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. NEHAWU condemns the hellish banditry of ISIS and the predatory imperialist schemes of regime-change orchestrated by the west that have slaughtered scores of people and turned millions of people into refugees. The CEC expresses concern about the potential conflagration of yet another worldwide war and undertakes to work with progressive forces to oppose the imperialist war. We also undertook to sustain our contribution in the BDS campaign in support of the people of Palestine.

NEHAWU notes with concern and pledge solidarity with the peoples of west and east Africa who are under siege from terrorist attacks. The fight against terrorism is our fight too, as our country itself is not immune. Therefore, NEHAWU calls for the reinforcement of security to protect the citizens of our country against terrorism. We pledge our solidarity with the struggling peoples of Swaziland, Cuba, Western Sahara, Basque and Kurdistan, and we undertake to step up our internationalist solidarity protest actions in their support.

NEHAWU is pleased and excited that COSATU shall join the rest of the African affiliates of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) on the momentous occasion of its 17^th World Congress in Durban next year. In this way, our federation is retracing the footsteps and proud history of proletarian internationalism of its forerunner SACTU, of which this year marked its 60^th anniversary. 

National political assessment

The CEC was unanimous in its conclusion that the 12^th Congress of COSATU was a great success. This success, marked by the surge in the spirit of unity and cohesion, crowned the progress that has been made in the provincial congresses held throughout the year. It was a highlight in the year of the 30^th anniversary of the workers’ movement of Elijah Barayi and a fitting end to the agonising episode of internal instability that engulfed our federation for far too long.

More than anything, the success of this congress represents the triumph of the supremacy of our constitution, policies and the founding principles of the federation, in defence of which NEHAWU shall remain vigilant. NEHAWU calls on all friends and foes of our federation alike to know that COSATU has moved on and that it is now determined to open yet another glorious chapter in the unfolding struggles of the South African workers. NEHAWU pledges full support to the elected collective leadership and undertakes to continue to help strengthen our federation and its affiliates. 

The message from the 12^th Congress is clear, the workers want a federation and affiliates with the capacity to wage militant struggles in defence of their rights, they want strong workplace organisation in advancing their collective bargaining demands and they want a strong COSATU to advance the broader working class interests in the national democratic revolution. In keeping with this and in the light of the continuing job-losses this year as a result of sharp declines in mining, manufacturing and construction in particular, NEHAWU strongly echoes our federation’s demand for the review of the macroeconomic policies of the NDP that are implemented. Therefore, the CEC reaffirmed COSATU’s resolution to file a Section 77 action in 2016 and pledge to mobilise our members in support of this action.

We look forward to the release of the White Paper on the NHI, and undertake to defend it against schemes by private hospital monopolies to undermine it through the courts.

The CEC noted that the internal challenges that engulfed COSATU have emboldened the principal class adversaries of the working class, monopoly capital and its allies, but also other class forces within the ANC itself. It therefore comes as no surprise that an opportunist and vicious offensive has been launched against working class leadership in our movement ahead of the 54^th conference of the ANC.

Conscious of our own interests as a component of the organised workers and the broader working class, as well as the serious implications of the capture of the ANC by a new reincarnation of an anti-worker and anti-communist tendency, NEHAWU shall do all it can according to its capacity to ensure that the working class does not stand idle by. We send out a message to all that the organised workers of South Africa have never and shall not be spectators whilst the future of our country is shaped by other class forces.

Therefore, NEHAWU shall make its own contribution within the federation in the process of the further elaboration of its posture as developments unfold. Our approach shall be guided by our own comprehensive analysis of the class orientation of the forces at play within the ANC, the imperative of the radical second phase and the established tradition of the ANC on leadership succession. In line with the undertaking of the 12^th COSATU Congress, we shall participate in the formulation of the ANC Manifesto and as part of our 2016 programme of action, we undertake to campaign for a decisive wall-to-wall municipal election victory for the ANC.

NEHAWU reiterates the call made by the 12^th COSATU Congress on the reconfiguration of the Alliance and the convening of the provincial summits for broad based discussions on this. This is strengthened by the broadly shared sentiments expressed by the last Alliance Summit on the internal and external challenges faced by our revolution and its formations.

In this spirit, NEHAWU calls on each component and the Alliance as a whole to undertake a serious study of the imperialist sponsored schemes of regime change around the world, the setbacks suffered by the progressive and revolutionary movement in Latin America, notably in Argentina, Venezuela and the unfolding developments in Brazil. We look forward to engaging with the outcomes of the work of the SACP commission on state power.

NEHAWU calls on all the formations of the Alliance and the mass democratic movement to close ranks and build unity and cohesion. NEHAWU condemns in the strongest terms Malema’s opportunist and demagogic attempt to soil the name of one of the embodiment of dedication, selflessness, discipline in our struggle, Nelson Mandela. Madiba is our icon and lodestar, the finest example for young people and all to emulate. 

NEHAWU salutes the SASCO-led October uprising of university students fighting against fee hikes and for free education, allied with NEHAWU branches fighting against outsourcing. In this regard, we welcome the ANC NEC’s directive that a formula must be found to achieve free education for the poor up to undergraduate level, as resolved in the 52nd National Conference of the ANC. We immediately undertake to spearhead an initiative of working with the PYA, SADTU and COSATU in broadening this struggle which must be under the ambit of the Education Alliance.

The CEC further resolved to stand in solidarity with our sister union, SADTU on its continued battle against the department of basic education on the roll out of the annual national assessment in its current format. We stand resolutely firm in making a call to the Department of Basic Education to allow the necessary space for the established task team to execute its mandate of looking into remodelling ANA.

Organising and bargaining

The CEC welcomed the gains scored for our members in terms of the 2015 public service collective agreement in the face of the employer’s determination to impose the terms of its austerity package. Thus, the CEC directed the national union to pursue the implementation of other gains of this collective agreement, notably the housing scheme, on which there is an ongoing process of engagement at the Public Service Collective Bargaining Council.

The CEC noted the growing and sustained attack on collective bargaining in the country, including by the employers in the state. Therefore the CEC calls for a collective bargaining conference under the umbrella of the PSCBC to address this. Building on the momentum of our struggle in Parliament, the national union shall undertake the necessary measures to secure central bargaining across the legislative sector. Similarly, the CEC directs the union that central bargaining must also be pursued in the higher education sector to deepen the gains of our struggle against outsourcing and corporatisation.

The CEC also reflected on the restructuring that is initiated by the Department of Home Affairs in respect of the national borders. Whilst appreciating the need for seamless integration of the operation and delivery of public service at border posts, NEHAWU rejects the attempt by the department to create an agency with a view to engineer outsourcing and privatisation of some of the functions later. Thus, the CEC directed the union to continue engagement with the department at the PSCBC and NEDLAC on the legislation and to consult and mobilise members to prepare for a possible dispute. The CEC also undertook to extend our campaign on the absorption of the community care workers and lay councillors into the public service into a national campaign.

Organisation

The CEC welcomed the report on a resoundingly successful year long programme of regional congresses. This process of the democratic renewal of our organisation builds on the success of our branch congresses that were held last year. In 2016, we shall work towards successful provincial congresses to complete the process of our democratic organisational renewal ahead of our 11^th congress in 2017. This shall be carried out side by side with the strengthening of our provincial and regional bargaining forums and escalation of our recruitment campaign.

The CEC proclaimed that servicing of members remains the lifeblood of our organisation, thus, we shall now translate the Back to Basics programme into a meaningful practical activity to strengthen our workplace organisation, to close the gap between leadership and members through regular and quality branch visits.          

Statement issued by NEHAWU Secretariat