Statement of the 25th -27th May Special Central Executive Committee Meeting

28 May 2015

The Congress of South African Trade Unions Special Central Executive Committee meeting was held in terms of the Federation’s Constitutional provisions.

The meeting was attended by the National Office Bearers, Trade Unions leadership, Provincial Secretaries and Chairpersons.

The following Trade Unions attended the Special CEC; SAMA, POPCRU, SADTU, SACTWU, DENOSA, NUM, NEHAWU, SASBO, SAMWU, LIMUSA, PAWUSA, CWU, SATAWU and CEPPWAWU.

The Special CEC welcomed LIMUSA as it was their first participation in the COSATU Constitutional structures.

The Special CEC also appreciated the attendance of PAWUSA and CWU who were adding to the number of affiliated Trade Unions, who had recently, came back to the CEC such DENOSA.

The meeting congratulated the newly appointed COSATU CEC Member, Dr Phophi Ramathuba as the MEC of Health in Limpopo.

And we wish her well in her responsibilities.

The Special CEC acknowledged all workers participation in the Africa Month celebrations under the Themes; We are One, Africa Unite and No to Xenophobia.

The Special CEC was held in the aftermath of the country facing job losses in many sectors, with many of our Unions gearing for wage negotiations in various sectors.

The meeting congratulated the Public Service Unions for a battle well fought which forced the employer from a position of arrogance and intransigence to a position of compromise towards workers’ demands.

The battle in the public service continues.

The Special CEC noted that the unemployment rate increased to 26.4% in the first quarter of 2015 from 24.3% in the fourth quarter of last year. The meeting was appalled that South Africa`s official unemployment rate is still rising!

The unemployment rate is totally unacceptable in South Africa, with many Johannesburg Listed Companies still registering huge profits at the expense of workers, who toil hard for peanuts.

The Special CEC agreed to pursue COSATU’s demands for other macro-economic changes, including decisive state intervention in strategic sectors of the economy, including through strategic nationalisation and the use of various macro-economic and other levers at the states disposal (see here). 

All Unions contributed in the Special CEC as equals and were consistently principled in their articulations on building the integrity of workers under COSATU.

The overarching spirit of the discussions in the Special CEC was informed by a revolutionary commitment of Repositioning COSATU towards a Radical Economic Transformation.

All Affiliates in the Special CEC emphasised the need to build the unity of COSATU on the ground through campaigns which elevates the plight of workers in particular and the working class in general.

It was with this mind-set that all the proceedings of the Special CEC were conducted.

On amongst others, the Special CEC deliberated on the following;

Meeting Credentials

The Special CEC established that all COSATU affiliated Trade Unions were in good standing with the exception of FAWU which is five months in arrears and SASAWU which is 10 months in arrears.

The Special CEC mandated the National Office Bearers to continue with the work they have started of meeting with these Trade Unions to address their organizational and financial challenges.

FAWU has an obligation like all unions in its position to meet with the COSATU Leadership as a part of the process of addressing their organizational challenges, including their state of their finances.

The Special CEC further expressed a concern that the absence of the other affiliated Trade Unions such as SAFPU, SASAWU and SACCAWU was without basis, given the long-standing commitment to holding the Special National Congress on the 13-14^th July 2015 which has now been further endorsed through an out of court settlement.

The members must ask their leadership as to why are they still staying out of the CEC.

Footballers in South Africa are confronted with serious challenges of exploitation. Many of these players die as paupers because of the current tax system which erodes their pensions.

Instead of boycotting the CEC, SAFPU leadership is supposed to be in the CEC discussing and mobilizing towards a campaign football players from exploitation.

SACCAWU is going through a series of major organizational challenges which includes retirement funds of workers.

We call on all members of SAFPU, members of SACCAWU and members of FAWU to urge their leadership to stop boycotting the CEC.

It is now clear that the call for a Special National Congress was not genuine. Instead, by the current conduct have hallmarks of people hell-bent to create instability within the Federation.

The Special National Congress which they requested will be held from the 13^th-14^th July 2015 as agreed by November CEC in 2014 and further endorsed by the out-of court settlement at the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg.

In our view, even this court action was a sheer waste of workers’ monies, which directed scarce resources away from being used for real issues affecting workers.

COSATU Unity and Cohesion

The Special CEC emphasised the point that workers in South Africa must continue to be united under behind the banner of COSATU as a tried and tested and most reliable Federation of workers.

The Special CEC reaffirmed its position that whilst it is important to have external interventions but the unity and cohesion of the Federation shall emerge from within the Federation itself.

The meeting appreciated the work done by the ANC Task Teams which has laid a solid foundation in taking the unity project forward. The Federation will now proceed to implement the recommendations, which includes, amongst others, on cessation of hostilities, implementing the COSATU Constitution, its policies, managing diversity of opinions inside the Federation and identifying areas of broad consensus as captured in the resolutions of the Federation.

This is an understanding which has been consistently emphasised by all interventions made in the Federation.

Deriving from this understanding the Special CEC agreed that we have now reached a point in which there is a need to utilize the lessons gained in the process to develop the Federation’s common understanding regarding the organisational, political and ideological understanding on how unity and cohesion of the Federations have developed over the years, including the challenges which have been met in the process up to the current period. 

As part of the preparations towards the Special National Congress, the Special CEC agreed to constitute a task team to develop a discussion document on the unity of the Federation as part of repositioning the Federation towards a struggle for radical economic transformation.

The discussion document will cover different epochs in the development of COSATU since its inception up to its 30^th Anniversary.

The Special CEC further agreed that as part of consolidating and taking forward the unity project, the following tasks, amongst others, must be undertaken without fail;

Tasks to be undertaken by the National Office Bearers:

a) The National Office Bearers should continue discussions with individual unions who have raised concerns on various issues. This will lay the basis for our preparations to have a systematic discussion at the Special National Congress focusing on the Unity and Cohesion of the federation.

b) The National Office Bearers should convene meetings with unions which are confronted with various internal organisational challenges.

c) The National Office Bearers should lead a Task team of General Secretaries to deal with the challenges in the Eastern Cape

d) The NOB led team of General Secretaries focusing on the Finances of the Federation should table a report with proposals on the way forward.

e) The National Office Bearers should convene the second phase of a meeting between NEHAWU and SAEPU to finalise the application for affiliation by a new union.

f) The National Office Bearers should develop a systematic programme to take forward the resolution on Mergers.

g) The National office Bearers should convene the meeting of the Campaigns and Organizing Coordinating Committee [COCC] to concretise a programme which must have dates for a National Day of Action on the Living Wage Campaign focusing on the National Minimum Wage and the defending the right to strike.

h) The National Office Bearers should develop a programme for federation led - work place visits. This programme will include recruitment, service to members, listening and addressing issues raised by members. This must be properly planned with clear success indicators and deliverables for each sector. 

The Special CEC further agreed on the following tasks, amongst others, to be championed by the Affiliates.

a) Affiliates should revive the one on one leadership discussions about specific perceived or real areas of differences amongst themselves.

b) Affiliates should revive their working-together relationship in various sectors particularly in the public sector where such had been stopped as a result of the differences.

c) The NUM should start working with the newly admitted union – LIMUSA to ensure that issues of potential overlap in scope are pre-empted and addressed immediately.

d) Affiliates must develop clear recruitment programmes and prepare for COSATU’s workplace visits.

e) Affiliates should assign specific standing members who will participate into various Alliance Task Teams. This includes preparing inputs towards the Alliance Summit.

f) There is an urgent matter of addressing pouching and the overlaps of scopes

g) There should be a discussion about how we make the CEC works effectively ensuring that affiliates are being treated equally and to ensure availability of CEC members to do COSATU work.

Whilst the Special CEC agreed on the above mentioned tasks aimed at consolidating the unity and cohesion of the Federation; whilst the Special CEC expressed a need for a careful approach in dealing outside the CEC which if not properly handled may give space to those saboteurs and enemies of COSATU.

The Special CEC was however very clear that we want to achieve unity by all means but not at all cost. The ‘careful approach’ will not continue forever.

The keeping away of these Unions is un-constitutional, it constitute dis-service t o members, they have become a pseudo-parallel organization to COSATU, hell bent to consistently putting COSATU on a back-foot.

They confuse and sow division amongst COSATU Members.

The conduct of the leaders of these Unions have divided and weakened workers on the ground.

All these cannot be tolerated in the name of achieving unity of COSATU at all costs.

May Day Assessment

The Special CEC noted that the COSATU 2015 May Day celebrations were a resounding across all provinces despite attempts by our enemies and detractors to plan opposition activities which failed dismally.

The Special CEC agreed to pay attention towards proper preparatory work for 2016 May Day celebrations this year.

The meeting agreed that moving forward our May Day activities shall be focused on attracting various sections of the society, we will include such activities as tackling employers during the Workers Day, having marches all over the country, reconnecting with community struggles for social justice, working with progressive civil society, tackling government policies which undermine workers’ rights, tackling capital’s attempt to steal our hard won labour rights and their continued exploitation including racism in the workplace. May Day in 2016 will never be the same again.

We will turn this day as a day of battle for workers in every corner of the country.

This will include, having meetings will various Alliance partners and government Departments.

COSATU congratulates all workers for honouring the call by the Federation to celebrate Workers Day.

Preparation towards the Special National Congress

The Special CEC reiterated that the Special National Congress will be held on the 13^th-14^th July 2015 as agreed in the November 2014 CEC.

And the venue of the SNC will be at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. Relevant Task Teams will now proceed with logistical preparations, and this will include Task Teams tasked to develop discussion documents.

The agenda of the Special National Congress will be as per the request duly made by Unions to the President.

Amongst the discussion documents will be on the Unity and Cohesion of COSATU.

The Special CEC mandated the President to defend the Constitution of the Federation and if a need arises, not hesitate to source legal advice and help in defence of the Federation’s Constitution and its credibility.

Ordinary National Congress

COSATU ordinary National Congress will be held back to back with the 30^th Anniversary celebration at the end of November 2015.

Provincial Congresses

The Special CEC adopted the following schedule towards the COSATU Provincial Congresses.

The Special CEC adopted the COSATU Election Guidelines which will be soon be circulated to all provinces.

It was agreed that the election will be facilitated by an Independent Electoral Commission in all provinces.

All Affiliates will soon be submitting their updated membership to ensure proper credentials for the coming Provincial Congresses.

The Special CEC emphasised all possible measures to avoid disruptions. 

The Special CEC noted with concern the emergent of a new and alien culture in the Federation where the usage of money is at centre of influencing Congress outcomes and also deciding who gets into leadership.

The Special CEC declared that this culture and tendency will be uprooted leaf, stem, branch and root.

Support to Unions

The Special CEC mandated the National Office Bearers to continue intervening and engaging with various Trade Unions.

It was agreed that a task Team will be formed to strengthen NOB’s interventions in CEPPWAWU and SATAWU.

The NOB’s will be further be requesting a meeting with SACCAWU.

The Special CEC declared its total support the struggles waged the CWU at the Post Office and at MTN.

Affiliates will be consulting with consider various solidarity actions.

Attacks directed at Unions

The Special CEC noted with concern that there are many Unions, who have been threatened with de-registration and whose applications for issues such as Constitutional amendments have not been processed by the bureaucrats in the Department of Labour.

This was seen as part of a concerted effort in which some government bureaucrats in particular from the Department of Labour [DoL] were being used to weaken and destroy our Unions.

In this regard, the National Office Bearers will be making follow-ups with various Affiliates to ensure that they have compliance with the requirements by the Department of Labour and on the other hand, COSATU has already secured a meeting with the Minster of Labour.

The discussions will not rule a call for the dismissal of these bureaucrats.

Preparations towards the Alliance Summit

The Special CEC discussed the preparations towards the forthcoming important , and first Alliance Summit after the adoption of the ANC-Led Alliance Manifesto towards the 2014 May 7 National General Elections.

The Alliance Summit is scheduled for the 25^th June until the 1^st July 2015 and it will focus on the following;

a) Unity of the movement, the state of the National Democratic Revolution and the balance of forces

b) Developing a common understanding and giving meaning to the Second Radical Phase of the transition

c) Dealing with outstanding issues from the previous Summit which include issues raised by COSATU and the SACP on specific areas of the National Development Plan.

In this regard the Special CEC agreed to constitute a preparatory Team to develop COSATU’s perspectives towards this Summit.

COSATU will be convening a joint political and socio-economic commission on the 09^th June 2015 as part of the preparatory work towards the Alliance Summit.

COSATU’s approach towards the Summit is to make an unambiguous statement that the radical phase of our transition need a strong organization on the ground, this must be buttressed by a decisive state intervention.

Those of our comrades deployed in the state must decisively and consciously implement government programmes in line with the ANC Policies and all existing Alliance resolutions.

Government as a concentrated expression of state power must be used consciously to direct the South African revolution in favour of the working class and the poor.

The meeting agreed to pursue the Manifesto deliverables.

Xenophobia

COSATU Special CEC Declaration on xenophobia, humane migration, democracy and development on the African continent

COSATU started its Special CEC on Africa Day; a day that epitomises solidarity and unity of the African people against colonialism and apartheid.

It is in this context that the Special CEC condemned in strongest possible terms the recent scourge of xenophobic attacks that are in some cases characterised by pure acts of criminality.

The Special CEC recognised that these incidents call for continued and intensified struggles for the total liberation and development of Africa.

COSATU recognises that the discourse about xenophobia cannot take place outside the general context of migration, underdevelopment and the prevailing conditions on the African continent, in particular.

It is an inherent feature of the crisis facing humanity as a whole as global indicators confirm.

The Marxist theory of uneven and combined development is a critical pointer to the fact that capitalism as a system tends to create isolated islands or regions of prosperity surrounded by seas of massive poverty and dehumanisation.

The root causes of xenophobia include structural and generalised conditions of gross abuses, extreme poverty, competition for resources and varying forms of discrimination and intolerances against diversity.

The working class in general and women and children in particular bear the brunt xenophobic violence.

In the context of neoliberal globalisation and capitalist crisis, migration has become a typical characteristic feature of the integrated global economy.

The relative development of South Africa, combined with the collapse and decline of many African economies under the pressure of neo-liberalism and structural adjustment, means that South Africa continues to be at the centre of in-migration in the region. What is unique to the current era of globalisation is that the transfer of wealth from the South to the North is occurring against the backdrop of decades of economic stagnation and crisis.

This means that migrants often tend to increase job pressures in the receiving countries, by increasing the reserve army of labour.

This intensifies competition between workers, creates bitter divisions, and induces xenophobic sentiments, which undermine the unity of workers’ struggle and the potential for their emancipation.

Political elites exacerbate these tensions to deflect attention away from local pressures.

The media also play a role in promoting negative images of Africans.

But more fundamentally, this situation benefits capital – which often promotes xenophobia while enjoying ever-expanding profits as workers fight amongst themselves for the crumbs.

State invention of xenophobic attacks

The Special CEC acknowledged all government interventions in combating xenophobic attacks and also progressive civil society organizations who created platforms to facilitate programmes aimed at enhancing peaceful co-existence in all communities where people from other continents in general and from around our Africa continent resides.

On Operation Fiela

The Special CEC appreciated all the noble intentions of ‘Operation Fiela’.

And also noted the concerns raised by various communities about extreme force which has been seen being applied by the security agencies against the people.

But the Special CEC insisted that whilst issues of excessive force must be addressed, the security agencies must continue to do their work to uproot criminal violence.

The Special CEC further called for thorough investigation of a possibility of an existence of organized groupings and any syndicate-led programme intended to cause havoc in the national territory.

We call on all state security agencies to pay a special attention to cross-border criminal activities.

The ongoing COSATU campaign against xenophobia entails the following key elements:

-  Providing mass education that builds popular consciousness, class unity and pride, and broadens awareness of the conditions facing people in other countries in Africa.

-  Condemning attacks on foreign nationals in various parts of our country in the strongest terms, and fighting for justice for the victims of such violence.

-  Working to ensure that blame for social ills is not directed at our working class brothers and sisters from other countries.

-  Placing primacy on organising migrant workers as a means to combating the super-exploitation of these vulnerable sections of the working class.

-  Condemning and exposing the widespread abuse and exploitation of the migrant workers by employers, agents and other intermediaries.

-  Fighting for and defending migrants’ human rights and equal access to social protection.

-  Calling for the review and transformation of our migration dispensation away from the racist and exclusionary colonial and apartheid-style policy towards a more progressive, inclusive and humane approach, based on equal rights for all as enshrined in our own constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

-  Promoting African heritage and affirming the positive values of Ubuntu, while challenging negative imagery and false linkages between migration and crime in the media.

-  Linking xenophobia to the call for a comprehensive development plan for the African continent as a means to fight the underlying causes of xenophobia, as well as campaigning against undemocratic regimes and human rights abuses which force people from their homes.

-  Calling for the tightening of security to ensure that criminals escaping the laws of their countries are not able to hide amongst honest migrants and asylum seekers in South Africa.

-  Fighting for the development of policies that protect foreign nationals working in the country, and for their right to organise and be organised into unions in order to enjoy the dignity afforded all workers by the Labour laws and other policies in our countries.

-  Facilitate and promote skills transfers between and amongst African and other countries, particularly in the global South.

We call for the immediate ratification of the protocol on the facilitation of free movement of people in the region, because capital is guaranteed free movement too. But also, we believe that will facilitate people-centred regional integration and harness harmonious relations between and amongst the people.

In this regard, COSATU Special CEC is committing itself to the intensification of the struggle against xenophobia as a critical element of the struggle for social justice, human rights and democracy and for Industrial development on the whole African continent, in which the conditions of life for the people are humane enough to allow for their peaceful, co-existence and common progress.

In this context, we call for the speedy conclusion of negotiations aimed at establishing Free Trade Area among SADC, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC). However, this integration should not only be about markets for goods and services but should address the pressing challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality confronting the majority of our people. Infrastructure development should be at the heart of this economic integration.

We note that labour migration policies often favour high-end skilled workers. Most states on the continent have not developed clear coherent policies for low-skilled workforce. This explains the division amongst workers and the intra-class violence. Moreover, states have failed to develop institutions to formalise the status and rights of low-skilled migrant labourers. The inadequate policy framework actually facilitates the super-exploitation of migrant workers by business.

In addition to the ongoing programme of action of COSATU on xenophobia, we will embark on the following actions:

-  Actively fighting xenophobia and other forms of discrimination, intolerance for diversity and afrophobic tendencies in our workplaces and communities

-  Promoting the values and ideas of Pan Africanism, renaissance and pride in being African amongst young people and society in general

-  Intensification of the values of internationalism, solidarity and progressive consciousness through our daily work and in how we relate to society in general

-  Promoting a progressive school and university curriculum that reinforces a deeper appreciation of African history, our cultural heritage, patriotism and love for fellow Africans and a more advanced ideological discourse, with a strong class and social content

-  Campaigning for the transformation of the South African media to stop projecting Africa in a very jaundiced and prejudiced outlook, which doesn’t build progressive consciousness that instils a rejuvenated and reinvigorated image of the continent, its people and its future

-  Call upon religious, cultural, traditional and other leaders and belief systems to promote values of unity and fellowship amongst Africans and amongst fellow human beings in general in the way we conduct our teachings, sermons, ceremonies and events

To this end, the CEC adopted an action plan which is divided into immediate, short term and long term activities.

Legal matters

The Special CEC received numerous appraisals on legal matters the Federation is dealing with in the current conjuncture.

The Special CEC agreed to lead a March to the offices of Free Market Foundation in Gauteng.

The Special CEC agreed to join as friends of the court to oppose perennial attempts by the Free Market Foundation to undermine the labour laws in this country.

The Special CEC agreed that the Free Market Foundation matter is not only a legal battle but it is a political and ideological battle which should also be fought on the streets. The Special CEC agreed that Gauteng will organize a picket at the offices of the Free Market Foundation to force as a warning to withdraw their court actions.

The Special CEC further agreed that Mr Herman Mashaba must consider withdrawing being the face of an onslaught against workers’ gains after many hard years of struggle.

COSATU will consider speaking to workers to refuse to utilize monies to purchase their products which are bought from organization trampling on their rights, using their last cents.

The meeting noted that NUMSA has taken us to court regarding their expulsion.

The Special CEC was clear that everything was done properly in the expulsion of NUMSA.

NUMSA has a right to appeal at the ordinary Congress.

If, NUMSA wants to come back, all they must do, is to reverse all resolutions they took in opposition to COSATU’s policies.

On Campaigns

The Legislated National Minimum Wage and Defending The Right To Strike

The Special CEC has received a comprehensive report on NEDLAC processes on labour relations. A Wage Inequality Task Team was formulated to lead deliberations of the national minimum wages in South Africa.

The Special CEC agreed that Affiliates must consult its members on finalizing mandates on national minimum wage.

The Special CEC has noted recent visits by COSATU leaders to Switzerland and Germany for study tours on the models of minimum wages and all these reports will be used to beef-up the work done on the ground with members.

The Special CEC noted work done of dispute resolutions and strikes. The Special CEC agreed that collective bargaining must be strengthened, with improved dispute resolution mechanisms.

The Special CEC noted the work done by the CCMA and Department of Labour to conduct road-shows on LRA Amendments and urge all Shopstewards to participate and empower workers to defend labour standards in South Africa.

The Special CEC reiterated its rejection of the DA’s proposed LRA Bill on strikes. And COSATU continues to call for the respect of the right to strike.

The Special CEC reiterated its call for wall to wall centralized bargaining to eradicate income inequalities.

Women’s Conference

The Special CEC has endorsed the coming Gender Conference on Decent Work focusing on Women and Youth 9-12 June 2015 at St Georges Conference Centre, Irene, East of Pretoria.

The conference will be geared towards enabling engagements on relevant global campaigns like the Decent Work Campaign, the focus on vulnerable sector, Gender mainstreaming and cooperation between COSATU and sister federation in the continent.

The Conference will therefore seek to draw up a program and road map towards campaigning for the ratification of the Maternity Protection, but further analyse and identify Maternity Protection gaps that exist in the national framework.

Through this conference we aim to educate and build capacity of gender coordinators and international relations officers in promoting and driving the national and international campaigns and programs intending to promote gender equality.

The delegates will be engaging in search for transformative strategies, and developing gender perspective in particular on the national minimum wage, Maternity Protection, Migration with focus on women, National Health Insurance, Food Security and climate change.

The Conference will be held under the Theme “Decent Work: Building a comprehensive supportive policy environment for women workers”

The conference methodology will include presentations by the International Labour Organisations (ILO), Dialogue with the Minister of Women in the Presidency, Department of Labour, South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC), Commission for Gender Equality(CGE), Legal Resource Center (LRC), Solidarity Center, NALEDI, COSATU Policy department and COSATU Parliamentary Department

Labour Brokers

The Special CEC maintained that the struggle for the total ban of labour brokers continues in the context of our living wage campaign.

We continue to call for the scrapping of the three months probation period. Labour brokers must be banned totally.

It cannot co-exist with the decent work agenda.

UIF Contributions holiday as proposed by the National Treasury

The Special CEC noted and strongly welcomed Treasury’s efforts to engage COSATU and NEDLAC, albeit ex post facto after the budget speech. 

The Special CEC welcomed government’s subsequent agreement to COSATU’s demand for the UIF contributions holiday to be cancelled and for engagements on what to do with the surplus to continue at NEDLAC as a matter of urgency. 

The Special CEC, amongst others, agreed that the 2014 UIF Amendment Bill must be tabled at Parliament as a matter of urgency. 

This Bill will significantly expand workers’ access to the UIF. UIF benefits will increase from 8 to 12 months. Pregnant women, who had miscarriages, will be covered. 

Maternity leave benefits will be increased. Reduced and short time workers will be included. These will be huge achievements which will benefit 1000s of workers. 

This Bill must be tabled at Parliament and passed without delay.

COSATU demand that the surplus funds be used to support job creation projects. 

Energy Security

The Special CEC has noted that Eskom has finally submitted an application to Nersa to reopen certain aspects of the Multi-Year-Price-Determination 3 (MYPD3) which will allow Eskom an additional 12.61% increase in the price of electricity. In terms of Eskom’s submission, the 12.61% is made up of 10.10% increase that will enable Eskom to buy electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through the Short Term Power Purchase Programme (STPPP) and buy diesel to operate the expensive Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs).

The Special CEC has rejected the behaviour of the Eskom Warroom assuming the role of determining and deciding on energy security issues.

The Special CEC has rejected the privatization of Eskom, and agreed to campaign with communities on the streets to reject the intention

The Special CEC has rejected the ESKOM electricity increase. COSATU has warned NERSA about its bourgeoisie’s tendencies on only conducting its public hearings in suburbs and thus disadvantaging the rural and out of town masses to decide on energy security issues.

The Special CEC condemned the behaviour by ESKOM which is characterised by apparent racism in which load-shedding schedules are structured against African communities in the main.

The recent situation where in Soweto load shedding took place for more than 10 hours cannot be accepted.

We welcome the ANC-led march in this regard and we will be working with the ANC, SACP and SANCO Branches all over the country in our campaign against increase of electricity tariffs.

On New e-tolls Dispensation

The Special CEC has rejected the new e-tolls dispensation so-called concessions and have reiterated the 11^th National Congress resolution to reject e-tolls system as it is a form of privatization of public goods.

COSATU Special CEC reiterated the 11^th national Congress to campaign for efficient, reliable and accessible public transport system for all.

The Special CEC agreed on a campaign on the streets to reject e-tolls system.

The Special CEC Agreed to continue the campaign for the reduction of the most tollgate at the Swartruggens and campaign for alternative routes to be erected for the poor.

E-tolls system continues to disadvantage majority of workers who stay away from places of work due to apartheid spatial planning of segregation.

We are saying e-tolls cannot be prioritised over and above the realization of a safe, affordable, reliable and accessible public transport system.

It is unacceptable that the expansion of communities has not happened in line with the expansion of reliable public transport system.

The Special CEC noted that Gautrain is heavily subsidised at the expense of public transport and demand subsidization of public transport to alleviate the burden on the working poor.

On Health Enquiry

The Special CEC has noted the Competition Commission processes in conducting an inquiry into private healthcare costs in South Africa. 

The Special CEC agreed that members of the public are facing exorbitant costs incurred when accessing health services in the private sector.

The Special CEC agreed to demand full implementation of the National Health Insurance in South Africa to make health affordable, accessible and efficient.

The Special CEC has noted “South Africa spends about 8.5 percent of GDP on healthcare, 5 percent is spent on 16 percent of the population; while the remaining 3.5 percent of GDP is spent on 84 percent of the population.”

The Special CEC further noted that in 2013, South Africa had more than 300 private hospitals and over 3500 private clinics. This expansion has been accompanied by the following perverse trends which have drastically increased private healthcare costs. The Special CEC agreed that State should implement section 36 and 37 of the National Health Act, which can be used to control the growth and activities of the private sector. And also agreed on Centralization of the national licensing system

On Food Security

The Special CEC noted half of South Africans do not have sufficient access to affordable, nutritious and safe food to meet their basic health requirements. These food insecure citizens reside in working class communities such as townships and rural areas. This is a major concern because the right to food is enshrined in section 27 of our constitution

The Special CEC agreed to restructuring the political economy in order to decommodify food= constitutional right over profit. Citizen’s right to food must be central in agricultural policy.

On Fracking and Shale Gas Exploration

The Special CEC noted that “Economic growth and development must support sustainable environments. 

Industrial and social processes must minimize the disruption of natural processes; limit environmental degradation, adverse changes in bio-diversity, soil erosion and desertification, the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, and pollution of water streams and ground water. 

The Special CEC agreed to finalize the discussions in the next meeting.

On International

The Special CEC acknowledged that COSATU must play and active and decisive role on the continent, both as a revolutionary trade union movement and as a progressive force for a new and just Africa advancing industrialisation, democracy, development and decent work for working class power and alternatives to neo-liberalism

The Southern African Trade Unions Coordinating Council is holding its Executive Council in Botswana, 20-22^nd May and amongst other issues to be discussed is two items tabled by COSATU;

-  Organisational Renewal of SATUCC and capacity building

-  Towards a SATUCC Conference on the state of SADC and for development alternatives and future of the region

The regional body has had serious difficulties and inability to reclaim its rightful space in the broader policy, strategic and political space of the region.

It hasn’t succeeded in mobilising and supporting effectively workers struggles in the context of the struggles against neo-liberalism and increasing levels of poverty, inequalities and unemployment.

The next BRICS Trade Unions Council meeting is taking place in Moscow, Ufa between 22^nd and 26^th July 2015.

ITUC mission to Swaziland and campaign for the release of political prisoners

The Special CEC noted the recent ITUC delegation to Swaziland in the context of the protracted battles by the trade union movement in the country to wage struggles in defence of workers’ rights.

The Special CEC noted that the political and trade union rights in Swaziland are inextricably found in such a way that they all suffer persecution by the state and all result from an oppressive political system called tinkhundla.

COSATU Special CEC agreed to support all initiatives towards a political stability in Swaziland.

Registration of TUCOSWA

The Special CEC noted the positive developments around the registration of TUCOSWA in Swaziland. And noted that the Mswati regime always make ‘changes’ prior to the ILO Meetings and thereafter reneges from sustaining such changes.

The Special CEC agreed to support TUCOSWA in the struggle for respect of labour rights in Swaziland.

We are noting that the labour rights given to workers are nicodemously taken away using the security agencies.

Visit by the Cuban Five

The Special CEC endorsed the Alliance Programme towards the hosting of the CUBAN Five from the 21^st June until the 4^th July 2015 in South Africa.

COSATU Special CEC has agreed to fully participate in all the programmes. COSATU leadership will address various fora to be attended by the CUBAN Five.

And the CUBAN Five are scheduled to visit Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

Further updates will be shared with the public continuously.

WFTU Congress

The Special CEC noted the World Federation of Trade Union World Congress is going to be hosted in South Africa for first time.

The next World Congress of the World Federation is taking place in South Africa for the first time in its entire history, positively coinciding with the historic decision of the federation to join WFTU as an affiliate.

The Congress shall be held on the 1^st-3^rd October, 2016.

There is already a Preparatory Team in which we participate and must further increase our involvement. The Presidential Council to be held in Geneva shall deliberate at length about the processes and related matters of the Congress too and COSATU shall also partake in it

Palestine

The Special CEC noted the struggles of the Palestinian people to end occupation by the apartheid Zionist forces of Israel have reached new heights and we are proud to be a key part of the intensified global momentum for a Free Palestine.

The BDS movement has reached unprecedented heights in South Africa and globally. We actively participated in various events of the Israeli apartheid week which escalated the struggle against apartheid Israel.

It’s heartening to see that the alliance has so much convergence on the issue of Palestine, as the ANC also played a more robust role as did all other alliance partners

The Special CEC agreed to participate in the BDS Campaign.

ILO Conference

The Special CEC noted the coming International Labour Organization [ILO] International Labour Conference on the 1^st June till the 13^th June in Geneva.

There are preparatory meetings taking place from the 30th May till the 1^st June Official Opening.

The issues on the agenda for this year are;

-  Application of International Standards, Conventions and Recommendations – country cases

-  Facilitating transition from the informal economy to the formal economy – standard setting and double discussion

-  Small and medium-sized enterprises and decent and productive employment creation

-  Recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection, under the follow up to the ILO declaration on Social Justice for a fair globalisation, 2008

COSATU shall be represented by a four person delegation led by the Acting General Secretary, Cde Bheki Ntshalintshali, which shall include the International Relations Secretary, Bongani Masuku, the National Organising Secretary, Theo Steele and Bongiwe Phili from SAMWU.

Key amongst the critical issues is the right to strike which is under attack by employers, claiming it is not a part of the ILO rights system and therefore, Experts are abusing their power in interpreting Convention 87 and 98 on Freedom of association, organising and right to bargain freely for workers rights to include, right to strike.

Workers have been adamant that it includes right to strike and therefore, with the right to strike under threat, we are called upon to act and act more decisively to reinstate and defend this important weapon of workers.

Repositioning COSATU towards a radical economic transformation is underway. COSATU looks forward towards the 30^th Anniversary throughout this year.

Statement issued by Cde Bheki Ntshalintshali, COSATU Acting General Secretary, May 28 2015