Goggling from previous Congresses and zooming into 11th Workers’ Parliament in 2012! Mampane Norman, COSATU Communications Officer, 14 September 2012 COSATU National Congress will be on Twitter and also of Facebook Page! Go to @cosatu2015 or @COSATU TODAY _cosatu or search for Cosatu Today after logging on your facebook page
The 11th National Congress countdown has evaporated and almost three days are left for all workers within the periphery of South Africa’s landscape to ascend at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand , to strengthen a ‘shield of workers-The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions. It is unfortunate for many doubting-Thomas that the Federation has grown over the last three years. The media accurately said ‘With its 2.2 million members, Cosatu is Africa’s largest trade union federation, but its membership is a far cry from the target of 4 million it set for itself in 2009. A fact is that ‘Cosatu’s membership and affiliate make-up has changed drastically since 1994, an indicator of the changing nature of employment patterns in the country’. According to Cosatu’s organisational report,’ the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) remains Cosatu’s largest affiliate, with 310 382 members, compared to 270 000 in 1994’. Cosatu believes the NUM is “under attack” in the platinum belt from its former members and other forces and is facing increasing pressure from the rival Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union. The second-largest affiliate is the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, with 291 025 members, up from 170 000 in 1994. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union is the third-largest affiliate with 260 738 members. In 1994 the union had only 64 000 members. Data from the federation’s workers’ survey showed there was a “worrying” under-representation of young workers, with the average age of members being 40. The gender data was even worse than the age data, said the report. There are 193 unions in the country, with 117 of these independent, but no data on their exact size and membership. According to Stats SA, overall trade union density is 32 percent. Half a million of Cosatu’s members earn less than R2 500 a month. –[The Star] Membership Statistics ‘The 2015 plan adopted by the 08th National Congress in 2003 set a target for increasing membership by 10% every year, working towards the target of 4 million in 2009. By the 10th Congress in 2009, COSATU had a membership of 1,97 million –a far-cry from the 4 million member target. While not achieving the target, COSATU has nevertheless grown by 200, 000 members in the period since the adoption of the 2015 Plan in 2003-a growth of 11% over the period. The growth between Congresses from 2009 and 2012 is the highest rate of growth for an inter-Congress period since 1997’ Kindly follow the link for more on the Organizational Report for Congress! http://www.cosatu.org.za/docs/reports/2012/report.pdf Obviously, justifying the growth demands factual information and arguments. The media failed to paint a picture of many lost within the manufacturing industry in particular due to the ‘global economic meltdown’ which vividly characterised the imperialistic, parasitic and horrific nature of a system of capitalism. Interestingly, some commentators negated the facts as seen by flying media head- lines over the last days depicting a gloomy picture prior to the Congress such as, ‘Cosatu’s suicidal wage proposal, Cosatu’s membership woes’ , adding more public attention to the Congress! Workers’ Parliament theme! ‘Strengthen COSATU for total emancipation’, with subsidiary themes ‘Celebrating Working Class contribution to the Liberation Struggle: Celebrating the ANC Centenary, and ‘Deepening Unity of the Leading Detachment of the Working Class and Confronting the Triple challenges’ Programme at a glance, with expected speakers and performers!! The Workers’ Parliament first day will be addressed by the President of the country, Mr JG Zuma and SACP General Secretary, cde B Nzimande on the first day. And COSATU President will open officially the Congress. The second day will be addressed by the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation , Madam Sharan Barruow, with Political Analyst Somadoda Fikeni having a word. The third day will be addressed by SANCO President and followed shortly by an address from World Federation of Trade Unions and Minister of Economic Development and Minister in the Presidency responsible for the National Planning Plan. And the last day will be addressed by the President of COSATU, in closing the Congress after all due processes shall have been concluded. NB: Congress programme may be changed before resumption of proceedings and as it is going to duly adopted in plenary. Kindly follow the link below for a comprehensive Congress Programme for four days. http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=6500 Creative element has been factored on the programme with POPCRU Choir featured with a popular musician, Phinda Mtya singing ‘Prayer for Africa’, and Tlakane Mofokeng performing ‘Ibuyile iAfrica in praise of struggle heroes and heroines and the ANC’. A special dedication will then be delivered for the Marikana workers and leaders, who passed on, with a rising star within the music industry, Zahara featuring POPCRU Choir again to deliver a remembrance song. Pops Mohamed will deliver his popular Jazz renditions later in the day And Ladysmith Black Mambazo will mesmerize the attendees with a great performance as always are known for. Renowned national broadcaster vernacular comedy stars, Emzini wezinziswa will perform a play on ‘Labour brokers and Youth Subsidy’ which will obviously form the back-bone of plenary debates. Kindly follow the link below on the Federation’s position of labour broking. http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=6359 Later in the week Simphiwe Dana and Zahara will perform for all delegates and guests the supreme body of the Federation. Discussions Documents and what is inside? The Organizational Report will attempt to summarise the happenings within the Federation over the last three years under review and will be delivered by the General Secretary, cde Zwelinzima Vavi. http://www.cosatu.org.za/docs/reports/2012/report.pdf The Socio-Economic Report amongst others has elevated the following elements for the attention of the supreme body of the toiling class in South Africa And the link tabled below takes you to all the narrative in detail. http://www.cosatu.org.za/docs/reports/2012/report_1.pdfWhat is at stake? Plenary debates envisaged! A Global Social Justice Movement in practice! The 11th National Congress will be attended by many domestic and international guests. And amongst notable organizations will be; Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders, Lawyers for Human Rights, Alliance Partners, SOS, Street net International, Traditional Healers, Student Formations, SACC, SETA’s, Business Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, Job Creation Trust, NEDLAC and Government Departments and many more. International organizations awaited to grace the Congress are from Botswana, Sweden, Britain, Zimbabwe, Norway, America, Western Sahara and ILO,BDS SA, SIGTUR, FOCUS, SDC SA, SAFIS,AFL-CIO, COLETU and many more. Media Coverage! The National coverage will have both a domestic and international footprint, with almost 300 media personnel accredited to cover the event.from both print, electronic media, with notable agencies such as Sapa, Business Day, Sowetan, The Star, INL, Sunday Times,Beeld, Rapport, Sake24, Business Report,Xinhua news Agency, Click Africa, Sunday Independent, CNBC Africa, ENCA, SABC TV & Radio, City Press, JacaNews, KayaFM, EWN, Mail &Guardian, Reuters, Bloomberg, Daily Maverick, The New Age, Soweto TV, AFP, Financial Mail, Financial Times and many more. Certainly all citizens with receive the developments in any form; sound-bites, quotes, shots etc... The success of this coming Parliament of Workers will not be measured by the luxury of debates but in the main by the ability to focus its attention to improving both the working and living conditions of the toiling class in South Africa and elsewhere. What’s your view? 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