COSATU has recently launched a free online discussion forum for trade union members from South Africa, workers and officials alike, together with supporters of the progressive and democratic South African labour movement. It is intended to serve as a space to share ideas, exchange views, debate issues and stir some controversy. This web forum is provided as a free service to the South African labour movement, by LabourStart.

It is still intended, at a later stage, and resources permitting, to organise a small series of Online Discussion Seminars, focusing on topics of interest and importance to South African trade unionists. Each such online seminar will be moderated by experts in the field, who will provide background information and will guide and summarise the discussion. Participants from South Africa and around the world will be invited to enrol for such seminars.

For those of you who are new to this form of virtual workshop, Eric Lee's recent pamphlet, Labour Websites: The Second Generation, will provide an excellent introduction.