This year is proving to be the busiest in the history of the federation. We are in the middle of our campaign for the creation of quality jobs and against job losses. We will be hosting the 17th world Congress of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in April. Our 7th National Congress is scheduled to take place in September. The second democratic local government elections will also take place in November.

Unemployment and job losses constitute one of the major challenges facing South African society and workers throughout the world. The South African economy has been shedding jobs for the last two decades. The number of jobs lost runs into millions of workers and has aggravated the unemployment crisis. By any standards or measure, unemployment in South Africa is too high; in certain contexts an 8% unemployment rate is considered a national crisis. We could not afford to sit on our laurels while the job loss bloodbath continues unabated.

The campaign against job loss and job creation has naturally elicited responses across the political spectrum. These range from support to attempts to paint the campaign as a fruitless quixotic exercise. For instance, some of the opposition political parties, which kept a stony silence as the job loss carnage continued, are now vociferous in condemning our action. We will no longer be slaughtered in secrecy. Alternatively, they blame the working class movement for being the cause of unemployment by fighting for better working conditions and a living wage. Further they see job loss as a natural consequence of economic restructuring. What these parties want is to revert to the era of slave labour and untrammeled capital.

Some see our campaign in the same light as the actions of the rightwing counter revolutionary forces. Linked to this is the cynical and selective use of the teachings of Max, Lenin and Engels to justify such accusations. How can the struggle for job creation and against job losses be counter revolutionary? This intolerance of alternative views must be addressed head on.

We shall not apologise for exercising our constitutionally entrenched right to protest. The rolling mass campaign reflects a problem - the strike is not a problem. COSATU is responding to a crisis. Who is the cause of the crisis? It is the 25 year investment strike. Why should people not focus their critique on this strike. The campaign in our view is correct and the demands are realistic and achievable. However, we have no illusions that after the campaign jobs will be created on the scale required deal with the unemployment crisis.

This campaign is not directed at the government or ANC. This is the campaign whose primary focus is capital. It is capital, not the new government that has thrown over a million workers to the streets since 1984. Yes there are specific demands only our government can meet. Yes we demand an intervention on our behalf by our government. But that does not mean it is an anti government campaign. After all this is our government, we played a key role in ensuring that it is retained with increased majority. We have no intentions of undermining it.

We are extremely pleased at the level of popular support our campaign has enjoyed in the Eastern, Western Cape and Free State and Northern Cape. Let us take the opportunity to congratulate the COSATU leadership in these regions and in the locals for their sterling work. The massive support the campaign is enjoying is a clear demonstration that unemployment and poverty is the real public enemy number one that must be defeated.

Together with NACTU and FEDUSA we are hosting the 17th world congress of the ICFTU in the first week of April 2000. Between 1200 to 1500 delegates from 143 countries shall gather in Durban, ICC to chart the way forward for the 130 million members of the ICFTU in the new century and millennium. This is the second ICFTU Congress in Africa – the first was held in Tunisia in 1957. This congress is therefore a vote of confidence in the growing power of the African trade unions. It further symbolizes the acceptance of South Africa to the free and democratic nations of the world. We welcome the delegates, thank them for their support during our struggle against apartheid and pledge to do everything within our power to make their stay in our country a memorable experience.

The CEC Lekgotla scheduled for the 11-13 April will lay the ground for preparations for the 7th National Congress scheduled for 18 – 21 September 2000. The CEC coincide with the Wits Region focus week and the 7th anniversary of the assassination of the working class hero – Chris Hani. It shall not limit itself to addressing the challenges facing COSATU, but will have to develop concrete strategies to ensure maximum participation of our members in debates around congress issues.

Many COSATU affiliates will also have congresses this year. We take the opportunity to wish them good luck. We know that all of them will rise to the challenge of repositioning their unions to meet the new challenges thrown by rampant globalisation and its ideological offshoot - neo-liberalism which seek to impose itself as the new ideology of the entire world.

Local government elections will take place in November 2000. As the federation we have begun a campaign to ensure that the African National Congress score a decisive victory. Despite the current contradictions, we are convinced that the ANC remains the instrument workers use to advance their own class interests. The elections are extremely important as they are going to be the second democratic elections at the local government level. COSATU activists and members throughout the breath and length of our country must brace themselves for even more work as we deepen our campaign for a decisive ANC victory in November 2000. However, our support is premised on the need for appropriate development strategies as we cannot countenance a situation where democratic councils adopt problematic development frameworks such as the Igoli 2002 strategy

Our hearts and minds go to victims of the floods in the Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, northern part of KwaZulu Natal and Mozambique. We know that life have been extremely difficult for our people in these areas. We pass our condolences to those who lost their loved ones and wish those injured a speedy recovery. The destruction caused by the floods to the lives of many people and their property defy description. Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world was on course to recovery before torrential rains hit it. We extend our hand of solidarity and friendship to the OTM and the people of Mozambique. We congratulate the South African government for its leading role in the rescue operations in Mozambique. We also congratulate men and women in the army and airforce for their unbelievable dedication to the cause of humanity as they saved thousands of lives in our country and Mozambique. They together with our government deserve medals of valour. We hope that the lackadaisical response of the international community to this disaster was not because of attitudes that do not value the lives of Africans.

COSATU shall make a contribution to the disasters funds of the North Province, Mpumalanga and Mozambique. We call on affiliates and other federations to make similar contributions. We know that the real challenge will be reconstruction of the affected areas. Major public works programmes are necessary to repair the damage caused by the rains and will go a long way in providing short to long-term employment. This is an opportunity we dare not miss to improve the lot of our people.

We are happy to announce that we have employed a new Shop Steward Editor - Nhlanhla Mbatha - a seasoned journalist who have worked for Pace magazine, Sowetan, City Press, Constitutional Talk and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We are convinced that with his experience the Shop Steward can only move from strength to strength. We also welcome Siphiwe Mgcina who have been an organiser and educator in the Mpumalanga region to his new deployment as the Publicity Officer of COSATU. The Policy Desk is also taking shape, and we welcome Comrade Neva Makgetla as the Fiscal and Monetary Policy Co-ordinator. More names will be announced in due course for the rest of the positions.

We pass our condolences to the family of the late comrade Martin Sere, the first Assistant General Secretary of South African Municipal Workers Union – SAMWU and the last Assistant General Secretary of the COSATU’s predecessor, the South African Congress of Trade Unions – SACTU. Comrade Martin Sere passed away on the 15 March 2000. We thank him for his immense contribution to the struggle of workers and the working people as well as the people of South Africa in general. Without Martin Sere, we are poorer! Pick up his spear and serge forward.

Until the next time – all the best of luck!

I am a young South African student and a member of the ANCYL, SACP and NUM.

I have dreams which I want to fulfill. I try to cope with life which is of course difficult, but people or political opportunists point fingers at others. I feel very sorry for those who don't know who they are.

What is wrong with students, especially at high school and tertiary institutions? Have you lost your mind?

We no longer fear our political leaders and our parents. Things have changed. I can see that everyone is confused because of Western culture.

Students what us wrong? What are you doing with drugs, tobacco and alcohol? Don't you see that you are young and you are busy destroying your future? Students, be proud of yourself. Don't let anyone, even famous people, play with you because you are the mothers and fathers, not only of South Africa, but of the World. Comrades, remember that you only live once. There is no life after death. Don't waste your time. The most important thing on earth is our struggle to fight job losses and to build a foundation for a better life for all.

Comrades, be realistic and know yourself. Being friends with political opportunists won't help you. Remember, "When days are dark, friends are few." I salute the NUM for the democratic revolution. Mineworkers are their own liberators.

I salute the late comrades J.B.Marks, Joe Slovo, the SACP, ANC and many others who contributed to the struggle of the mineworkers. Viva COSATU for human resource development in the mining industry! Forward COSATU in your search for skills development and for the struggle for a better life for all!

Viva COSATU for your slogan, "An injury to one is an injury to all."

Popcru members are shocked that our national leadership, through our media officer, supported Khulekani Sithole, the Commissioner of the Correctional Services, despite being condemned by various sectors of society.

We are further confused by the report in our newsletter appealing to members of the community to identify all corrupt officers in the South African Police Services and Correctional Services Department, as they do not belong to these departments (POPCRU News, July/August/ September - Spring 1999, Volume 2 Number 3 Page 3). At the same time the Commissioner, who was investigated and found to be corrupt, is defended by our national leadership, through the media officer, on the grounds that he has transformed the Department of Correctional Services.

We must not forget our policy, as Popcru, on crime and corruption. Our policy says that we need to work hand in and with the community to identify corrupt police and correctional officers, including traffic officers, to be removed from our departments. Our policy does not say there are junior or senior corrupt officers, nor does it say that those who are hard workers and corrupt should be overlooked. It says that those who are corrupt should be identified and removed, including the Commissioner of Correctional Services. Have we replaced white domination with black domination? The fact is that he has also undermined the ANC government on good and clean governance.

Let us transform the public service and not corrupt it. Let us engage together in fighting for socialism and not for corruption.

Socialism is the future, lets build it now!

I have noticed that micro lending companies like the African Bank are targeting mostly public servants.

Public servants apply for loans from such companies and they charge them exorbitant interest. When they have problems, the so-called 'trained' staff of these companies simply lie to them, telling them that their departments create all the mistakes they find in their salary statements.

This is not true. These companies are out to rip off public servants, more so the cleaners and messengers who borrow money from these people. Semi-literate public servants are disadvantaged in that they cannot identify the gaps in their cooked statements. See for yourself. Visit these places on the 15th of the month. Public servants are forced to go to these companies to augment their little salaries to survive.

I am full of praise for the progressive position taken by Popcru, a COSATU affiliate, to open its doors to SANDF members.

We understand that unions are associated with strikes by uninformed people. That is the propaganda spread by forces who are against transformation and development in our country. As members of the SANDF we understand our primary role, mandated by the people of South Africa, to protect the sovereignty and territory of our country.

We shall not deviate from this at any cost. We have a democratically elected government which serves the people of our country.

Our hard earned democracy should be defended and we are prepared to do that.

I would like to comment on Cosatu's labour policy.

I am a contract worker and often have a hard time finding a job that pays a living wage. To ensure that I have long term work or get laid off last, I spend more time at work doing quality work.

Every time people go on strike somewhere, the cost of living increases. The reasons are that:

• the company involved cannot maintain production and is forced to pay wages to non-striking staff who are unable to work. Also, they are generating no income.
• overseas investors say, "Oh, another strike! I don't think we will invest here!"

Inflation rates and food, petrol and clothing prices increase. The net result is that your activities affect me in a negative way.

I beg you, please stop the strikes. Let's get production going. Let's get the country going.