*THE PUBLIC SECTOR STRIKE IS NOT COUNTER REVOLUTIONARY AND IT REMAINS JUSTIFIED*
* * * * The President, out of his anger and frustration as a consequence of public sector dispute, is calling for trade unions not to be tempted in the process and therefore raise political statements. The President erects a Chinese wall between organized workers strikes in the economic terrain and political terrain. President Zuma, a former trade unionist during SACTU days, should know better that no matter the frustrations as a head of state, workers struggles are political struggles. Unfortunately this is the pervasive logic in the government and in various leaders of the economy in many sectors. To argue for the concentration of trade unions purely to bread and butter issues as they concern them in the now (wage demands) and omit scratching the political framework that gives rise to their immediate quagmires is to reduce worker’s struggle to a “workerist” level. It is a call for a minimalist approach that revolutionary trade unions that are ideologically committed beyond the shop floor have always refused to be subjected. The public sector dispute is not only about the wage and benefit demands per se, but it is also about the terms under which public service must be transformed, the kind of state cadre, the decent wage and the kind of public sector culture reinforcing the aspirations of the state agenda. The easy temptation from anyone caught up in the ideological indecision would mechanically be irritated and therefore unleash condemnation. Whilst trade unions can be reformist in character sometimes which always justifies the need for a revolutionary vanguard Communist Party, as an advanced detachment to provide leadership; Shop floor struggles and all related employer/employee skirmishes are an important elements of and, contribute towards contradictions that sustains the class struggle. It is therefore beyond anyone, despite of his or her bona fide that they can dictate the terms of engagement by the unions when they are undertaking that important process during the dispute. The important question that should be confronted in this current public sector unrest is what constitutes a decent wage in the public service when an ordinary police who fights crime directly in the dangerous streets of KwaMashu and Hillbrow, earns less than R8 000 when the Police General earns well over a million, a teacher earns R7 000 when the DG earns more than a million. The issue is not about the strategic nature of occupation of these two (teacher/police versus Director Generals) categories of jobs and the particular expertise that are of consideration, but more about the national priorities of the country and as a nation, our national imperatives. This should inform public sector wage patterns on the basis of national priorities so as to have better motivated state cadres so willing and passionate to reinforce and execute national priorities with pride and be the keepers of our national interest as a nation. The above area should critically talk to the current wage gap so appalling in the state. An upper echelon in departments including in the state utilities are paid on the basis of market related salaries ; whilst the middle and lowest rung of the workforce is paid on the basis of inflation targeting of which itself, is a product of serious war in the public service coordinating bargaining chamber ( PSCBC). This represents an important element; that the state is an organ of class rule. The other vexing expression made is to present trade unions and public servants act against the employer (which is our government) as counter revolutionary and, undermining the democratic state. Within this logic when revolutionary trade union leaders make certain statements in the course of a dispute, they are accused of being acting either in concert with opposition or posing themselves as opposition. This in part constitutes an act of political blackmail so as to succumb to pacification. This has a potential to blunt the cause of workers in key moments during workers riots. We need an appreciation of the contradictory relationship between the worker and employer. And these contradictions will not go away so long as we are in a bourgeoisie society reinforced by a bourgeoisie state which is defined on the basis of oppression of one man by the other. The young communist league is not only supporting the strike but it is very much part of it and would be present throughout the country in support. * Khaye Nkwanyana* * * *Deputy National Secretary of the Young Communist League of South Africa* -- Gugu Ndima +27 76 783 1516 -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. 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