International Womens Day 08-03-07

 

International Women's Day

The Congress of South African Trade Unions greets the women of the world on International Women's Day (IWD), 8 March. In particular we dedicate this day to strengthening the ties of solidarity with working women in the worldwide struggle against their double exploitation as both workers and women.

We are concerned however that the revolutionary origins of this day have been largely forgotten, or even hijacked by businesswomen, like the company sponsoring the official IWD web site, which boasts that it "connects business and professional women".

We must never forget that IWD was begun in 1910 at an "international congress of socialist women", inspired by reports of a strike and protest march of American women textile workers in 1908. In the words of the great Russian trade unionist and revolutionary, Alexandra Kollontai, "women workers should dedicate themselves to a common cause as workers while outlining and putting forward those specific needs and demands that affected them as 'women, housewives and mothers'."

We also agree with the German socialist, Clara Zetkin, who told the conference that "the liberation struggle of the working class woman cannot be...a struggle against the men of her own class. The end goal of her struggle is not free competition against men, but bringing about the political rule of the working class."

That call is just as relevant nearly 100 years later. Women workers throughout the world continue to suffer exploitation both at work and at home. At work, women are still paid lower wages, perform the most menial jobs and are less likely to be promoted. At home, violence and sexual abuse of women and girls is rising. Women also bear a disproportionate brunt of the HIV/Aids epidemic, in both the numbers affected and the burden of caring for family members.

COSATU's Ninth National Congress resolved to support the Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa (PWMSA) and its aim of empowering women and removing gender bias. Congress agreed to build a new working relationship with the PWMSA around specific issues that are pro-poor and pro-women workers. Now is the time to act on the mandate from Congress and convert these words into deeds, so that women can be liberated from poverty, exploitation, disease and violence.