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The Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) in the Northern Cape says it will use its Shop Steward Council of clusters and Workers Day rally to consolidate its campaign for the ANC victory in the upcoming general elections on May 29.
The trade union has organized a series of shop stewards councils in the Province’s districts: John Taolo Gaetsewe, Namakwa, Frances Baard, ZF Mgcawu, and Pixley Ka Seme. Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi was expected to address the council on Friday.
The shop steward council comes at a time when workers are facing challenges at the workplace. In its statement, Cosatu said that central to the agenda is to mobilize and unite workers as the country prepares for an election day when South Africa will celebrate 30 years of democratic dispensation.
The council will also focus on policies that focus on workers’ rights against retrenchments, wages, harassment at the workplace, and racism. The trade union added that besides the ANC, other alliance partners SACP and SANCO will be present during the meeting to confirm their support for the ruling party. The union says it will also encourage nonunion members to join unions affiliated with Cosatu and revive activism. Alliance partners who have been vocal against the occupation of Palestine by Israelis will also call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
According to COSATU Secretary in the Northern Cape, Orapeleng Moraladi, the federation will host five clustered regional shop steward councils, in all districts on 12 April at 10 am.
The gathering aims to give feedback to members of COSATU on developments in the socio-economic and political sphere and to mobilize workers towards May 1 and as a build-up programme for the general elections on May 29.
“COSATU has taken a resolution to support the ANC in the elections for various reasons, amongst them, the strides we have made as alliance partners in the Labour Relations Act and other pieces of legislation, including the national minimum wage and the national health insurance,” explained Moraladi.
The meeting is spread throughout five districts to make it easier for members not to travel long distances. “We also want to tackle challenges encountered in those districts. We are expecting 1800 members in all five districts. We expect 500 attendees in Francis Baard, 400 in John Taolo Gaetsewe; 300 in ZF Mgcawu; 200 in Pixley Ka Seme, and 150 shop stewards in Namakwa,” added the Spokesperson.
Among the issues to be discussed are: socio-economy – how to fast-track economic empowerment to alleviate poverty and inequality and to highlight the history of May Day and its significance in the struggle of class.
The federation extended and invited the public and other activists who have a vested interest in May Day and the elections. COSATU President Zingiswa Losi will attend the clustered shop steward council, while the National Treasurer, Freda Oosthuysen will be at Francis Baard.
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