COSATU Central Executive press conference 23 - 11 - 06

COSATU Central Executive Committee, 20-22 November 2006
The first meeting of COSATU’s Central Executive Committee since the 9th National Congress took place in Johannesburg from 20-22 November 2006. All COSATU’s 21 affiliates, COSATU provinces and the National Office Bearers were represented.
Assessment of National Congress

The COSATU NOBs presented three reports to help stimulate debate. The first was an assessment of the 9th National Congress and analysis of current developments. The NOBs then presented proposals on how the Federation could address political and organisational challenges laid bare by the five affiliated union Presidents who were constituted into a commission to look at the challenges of unity at the NOB level. Their report was presented to the CEC.

The CEC debated each of these three reports and accepted each one of them. The NOBs have been asked to update the analysis of the current challenges and assessment of the 9th Congress so that a paper is released for members’ discussions. We will release the paper in due course. We have decided not to release the commission’s report and the NOB report on how the chapter of the divisions could be closed. Members of COSATU will engage with these reports but they remain strictly internal documents. COSATU should be allowed space to address its internal problems away from the full glare of the media. We request that the media respect this wish.

The CEC spent two days conducting a frank and honest assessment of the National Congress. Generally we agreed that we confounded the predictions of the media sceptics, who generally portrayed a movement at war with itself and unable to find consensus on any policy question. We have always maintained that whilst we admitted that we faced serious unity challenges, the media and so-called experts broadly sensationalised and exaggerated the extent of these divisions.

On the contrary, the Congress was an illustration of workers’ unity, power and democracy in action. Delegates engaged in constructive debates on a range of issues and reached consensus on a broad and ambitious programme.

There was no major disagreement on any of the resolutions. Not once did we even anticipate a vote as a result of differences that could not be resolved. All 2300 delegates from 21 affiliates took every decision unanimously.

The CEC recognised however that Congress and the period leading up to it was also characterised by real divisions. These divisions were essentially at the NOB and CEC level, but, as would always be the case, they affected delegates.

It was agreed that while expressions of differences can be a sign of a healthy internal democracy, the manner in which these issues were dealt with and reflected in the media cannot be tolerated.

In particular the CEC was disturbed at the way differences were aired in the media via anonymous sources, often presented in a way that was designed to undermine the credibility of the Federation and the bona fides of individuals.

Throughout this whole period a picture was presented of a deeply divided leadership and a movement rife with factions. This tarnished COSATU’s image and damaged its reputation as the conscience of the nation.

The Commission that was appointed confirmed that there were divisions and also dealt with the reasons behind these divisions. The CEC held an honest and comradely discussion of their extent and the factors behind them.

We felt that we must however report on one matter that was taken to the public - suggestions that the COSATU President had initiated investigations on the alleged abuse of the COSATU credit card Firstly the commission established there was no truth to the claims that another COSATU NOB had made allegations to the President that there was this alleged abuse of the COSATU credit card. The allegation that there was an investigation, and its subsequent leak to the media, were inspired by the desire to damage the standing of COSATU and its General Secretary to the COSATU members and to the public.

The CEC agreed that these divisions were caused by some political differences and centred on apparent differences on the role of COSATU in the transition. Broadly these differences mirror the political differences in the broader liberation movement. It is however an exaggeration and over-simplification to suggest that COSATU is split between any two ‘camps’.

The CEC was however alarmed that new cultures have been introduced in this period, the most disturbing being the manufacturing of lies and leaking of information, and spreading rumours and scandal, to the media. The CEC resolved that this must stop and that it is wrong to:

Use the media to air differences with COSATU official policy when no one raised a contrary view within the structures, in particular to do so as an anonymous source.
Manufacture and peddle lies about other comrades and assassinate their characters with the intention of undermining their credibility, and/or promote other candidates in leadership battles.
Use the media to campaign for leadership position
Issue statements and conduct media interviews on which candidate the unions would be backing in leadership elections.
Form organised factions, no matter the justification of their existence, which always carry a danger of bypassing official structures.
Use tribalism in any way to advance a political aim. This must be nipped in the bud whenever it rears its ugly head.
Notwithstanding all these problems, the Congress was a resounding success. Workers have spoken and the CEC has now shouldered its responsibility to implement the resolutions adopted by the workers’ parliament.

The CEC agreed that millions of workers depend on our unity and organisational coherence to fulfil their aspirations. Our members have told the leadership to bury the hatchet and work together to advance social transformation and the CEC and NOBs have resolved to do so. We will create an environment in which we can build genuine and principled unity. This includes calling a political school to examine key political issues.

In conclusion the CEC reaffirmed that COSATU is bigger than any individual and expressed its determination to cement the unity forged at this meeting and move forward united to face the challenges of the next three years, guided by the COSATU constitution.

Organisational challenges

The Congress confirmed that the federation is definitely growing, reversing the 1% decline in membership reported in 2003 with a 4% increase in overall membership in 2006, from 1.7 to 1.8 million. We now represent over two-thirds of unionised workers in South Africa. All surveys points to a high level of members’ satisfaction with COSATU unions’ service level and a high degree of convergence between the leaders’ and members’ political views.

COSATU must address its representativity. Currently it is perceived as a male dominated and has not succeeded to ensure that atypical or casual workers, workers younger than 35 years and white workers are part of it.

COSATU therefore faces the challenge of organising in non-permanent jobs women, young workers and white workers. The CEC felt that not all our affiliates take recruitment seriously, as growth is concentrated in a few unions. The challenge we face is to develop imaginative ways of reaching out to the unorganised and the unemployed.

SABC

The SABC have still to respond to our letters on alleged comments to the media by one of their senior figures about the need to “isolate and neutralise” COSATU and its General Secretary. The CEC noted that the independent Commission report confirmed allegations of a policy of blacklisting commentators. It was agreed to send a further letter which will also condemn the move to take disciplinary action against John Perlman.

The CEC instructed the COSATU National Office Bearers to do everything to defend him and to make sure that he is not opened to intimidation in a manner that would communicate a message to SABC staffers that those who stand up when the public is told untruths will suffer. This would deepen the culture of sycophancy at SABC and further undermine its role as the public broadcaster.

2010

COSATU will continue to push for more labour representation in the Local Organising Committee. In addition to this COSATU urged its provincial and local structures to ensure that labour is represented in whatever committees established at the provincial and local level. The CEC remain concerned that there is no structured national debate to seek solution to the crisis of the free fall of standards and reiterated its call for the convening of the soccer indaba involving all stakeholders.

HIV/Aids

The CEC welcome the emerging unity between the civil society formations and the government about the HIV and AIDS epidemic. We salute civil society for the highly successful congress they convened at the end of October and pledged that COSATU will do its part to ensure realisation of its declaration. COSATU has appealed to the Minister of Health not to disrupt the spirit of unity achieved at that congress.

Gautrain

The CEC noted with regret that the government is moving ahead to introduce the Gautrain despite the objections of COSATU and other progressive formations. COSATU will continue to campaign for an integrated public transport system that is accessible, affordable and safe. In this regard we shall as part of the broader jobs and poverty campaign continue to persuade these objectives through the submission of a new Section 77 notice to Nedlac.

SASFU

The CEC considered an application for affiliation from the SA Security Forces Union. This was agreed in principle and the NOBS were charged with working out the details to help the union satisfy all the requirements for such an affiliation. We shall engage with the Minister of Defence to ensure that the regulations he has introduced preventing freedom of association contrary to our constitution are scrapped.

COSATU 21st anniversary and World AIDS day

COSATU will be 21 years old on 1 December 2006. In line with the resolutions of the congress and the civil society congress on HIV and AIDS, we will join government and civil society to mark this World AIDS Day on 1 December. Accordingly the COSATU anniversary will be celebrated through a seminar on 7 December 2006. The venue and other details will be announced in due course.

Resolutions referred to the CEC by the congress

Because of the time necessarily devoted to the post-Congress assessment, discussion of the resolutions not taken at the Congress was deferred until the February CEC.

SCA judgement on CCMA powers

The CEC considered the implications of the Supreme Court of Appeal judgement on Rustenburg Platinum v CCMA. This narrows the scope of CCMA commissioners’ powers down to ‘reviewing’ employers’ decisions, rather than balancing their evidence against that of the worker. It was agreed to investigate possible constitutional court action against this. COSATU will seek a meeting with the President of the Labour Appeals Court to register this its concerns. Further the CEC condemned in the strongest terms possible the tendency that is becoming widespread of employers who routinely ignore the CCMA rulings. We also raised serious concern at a growing number of CCMA rulings being taken on review to the labour court, which adversely affects workers’ rights.

Karan Beef

The long and bitter dispute between SACCAWU members and Karan Beef has been provisionally settled at the CCMA, but the employers have previously ignored CCMA rulings and are now saying they will not sign this agreement until they receive an apology for remarks allegedly made by a union official. COSATU is to take up Karan Beef’s continued membership of the Proudly South African Campaign, when they clearly do not comply with its provisions on fair labour practices.

It was reported that the Sun International dispute is also being settled.

Makro Germiston

The CEC expressed its disgust that Makro in Germiston have unfairly dismissed more than 60 workers because they demonstrated against the sexual harassment of one of their colleagues by a member of management. The CEC calls for immediate reinstatement of all the workers who have been victimised for correctly pledging solidarity with their colleague and for the dismissal of the store manager. COSATU’s Gauteng Province is organising a picket of Makro Germiston from 11h00 to 14h00 on Friday 24 November. And if immediate action is not taken to reinstate the workers, we will call a consumer boycott of all Makro stores during the festive season as part of the celebration of the sixteen days of activism against women and children abuse.

De Beers

The CEC gave its full backing to the NUM’s campaign against retrenchments at Kimberley, which cannot possibly be justified, and pledged COSATU’s support for any action they take. The CEC called on De Beers to engage with the NUM and the communities and do everything to avoid retrenchment of members. More so we call on De Beers to help to realise the call by the Northern Cape and COSATU for beneficiation to be realised.