‘E-tolls slow-drive campaign resumes the 24 June 2013 in Johannesburg’-COSATU Gauteng PEC Statement Dumisane Dakile, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 21 June 2013 The meeting was convened during the month of June which is dedicated to the role which has been played by Youth in ending the apartheid system in our country. The meeting also noted that the period under review has witnessed many developments taking place both within the country and also at the international level. The meeting also noted the hospitalization of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela our icon and hero of the workers and the poor and wished for his speedy recovery. The meeting also noted that some have predicated the collapsed of the federation during the recent CEC and unfortunately such prediction have not materialised and the federation is still intact and strong as ever before. The Gauteng Province is still strong, vibrant and cohesive behind its leadership both in the Province and also at the National Level. International balance of Forces Global Economic Crises The PEC noted the continuation of the global economic crises engulfing the world and its impact to the workers and the working class across the globe. The meeting further resolved that Cosatu should educate its members about the nature of the crises and its impact to workers in the world and also expose the capitalist system as a crisis. The meeting further noted that working class in the world and in particular in Europe and in the USA have now begun to realise the barbaric nature of the capitalist system. The meeting further noted that workers across the globe are rising and challenging the unilateral imposition of austerity measures against them. Brics The meeting noted the hosting of Brics Summit by the country during the month of March and more importantly the announcement of the establishment of the Brics Development Banks. The meeting hoped that the Bank will not operate in the same line of Neo-liberal thinking such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund which had brought misery and suffering of so many people in the continent in a form of structural adjustment programs. The meeting further resolved that the Province should convene seminars to educate our members on the importance of Brics and also on how will such a bank operate and how will the working class benefit. The meeting noted that Africa requires massive investment to advance the socio-economic condition of its people and believes that the Brics Development Bank could play a critical role in this regard. Syria and, Release of the Cuban Five, Swaziland and the Palestine Question The meeting noted that serious and brutal killing of the working class in Syria and the role being played by France and USA in the conflict. The meeting resolved the province should embark on a campaign to provide solidarity support to the people of Palestine, Swaziland, Western Sahara and the Cuban Five within the province and in this regard we will co-ordinate all the solidarity formation and campaigning structures into one common structure that will ensure that detail program of action is developed and implemented. The PEC in this regard will form part of the planned protest action against the planned visit by the American President Barack Obama to the country. We will mobilize our members to join the March on the 28 June 2013 and also to join pickets in the University of Johannesburg on the 29 June 2013. 1913 Land Act The meeting took place during the centenary of the 1913 Land Act, It assesses progress being registered to redistribute land to the masses of our country and felt that the progress has been very slow. The meeting therefore called upon the alliance to urgently convene the Land Summit in the province to assess progress and also to develop a concrete program to redistribute the land to the masses. National Development The meeting noted number of developments which have taken place since the last PEC and resolved as follows; Distortion of History, Facts and Hijacking of the People’s Struggle The meeting condemned in strongest term the political opportunism by the Democratic Alliance to distort history, facts and hijacking of the people’s struggle. The DA will never mislead us and or our people as they wish to be portrayed as part of the liberation movement. They have never been in the struggle and had been part of the white minority Parliament that implemented the Apartheid system. The have now embrace the Freedom Charter, believe in the ideas and selective legacy of Nelson Mandela and now donated R1 million rand to the OATA. All of these actions demonstrate how desperate is the Devils Alliance to win the votes. Alliance The meeting noted the relationships between and among the Alliance partners in the province and resolved that the relationship should be strengthen and build to be strong at this conjuncture to ensure that the NDR is advanced and consolidated. The meeting resolved that the Alliance Summit must be convened before the end of the year and also a bilateral meeting between the SACP and COSATU is convened during the month of July 2013. Political Education The meeting resolved to intensify political education across the province and in this regard the province will proceed with Saturdays Political classes in its clusters. The meeting also resolved that a joint political school with the ANC and also with the SACP should be conducted to ensure that as many as possible Cosatu Shopstewards are provided with political education. Mass Democratic Movement The meeting also noted progress on the building of the mass democratic movement in the province and resolved that such should be strengthened. The meeting also noted our working relationship with the progressive churches and resolved that this must be strengthened by the province. Public Transport System The meeting assessed the implementation of the Public Transport Campaign in the Province. The Province resolved that the campaign should continue to be implemented by the federation and in this regard supported the actions as follows: 24 June, 02 July and 05 July 2013 The meeting resolved that the drive slow campaigns must be intensify and the in this regard the province will be proceed with the drive slow on the 24 June 2013 in Johannesburg and also on the 02 July 2013 in the City of Tshwane. The Johannesburg slow drive has already being approved by the authorities as compare to the previous application which necessitates the federation to approach the Magistrate Court in Johannesburg Court. We have not paid a single cent and will never pay for exercising our rights to protest and demonstrate. The province will also embark upon the Provincial Strike Action on the 05 July 2013 and details of this strike action will be announced in due course. The struggle continues! The PEC also welcomes the many civil society organizations and individuals who are joining the campaign on E-toll and will continue to mobilize broader sections of our communities to join the E-toll campaigns. Prayer Service The meeting also resolved that the province should initiate a discussion with the church formations across the province for convening of the prayer services. The details of such will be communicated to the public in due course however the month of July 2013 has been targeted for such. Labour Brokers The meeting noted developments in the Parliament on the amendment of the labour Laws among others to deal with the issue f the labour brokers. The meeting therefore resolved that the Province should continue with the campaign for the Banning of the Labour Brokers and in this regard it resolved to call for massive protest and action and such will be done during the month of July 2013 which will take a form of the stay way on the 05 July 2013. We will announce details of such in due course. NDP The meeting further welcomed the Cosatu position in relation to the National Development Plan which indicates serious flaws in the Plan. The province will further engage in road shows across the province to ensure that all of its members and alliance members understand the Cosatu position on the NDP. Unilateral Change of Collective Agreements and Failure to implement the Collective Agreement by Government Departments. The PEC resolved to support Sadtu and Popcru in their battles to defend the collective agreements signed with the Department of Basic Education and also with the Department of Safety. We call upon both Departments to respect and implement agreements signed with our unions and the failure to do so in our view amount to negotiating in Bad Faith and therefore our unions should embark upon action of which we shall fully support as the federation in the Province. Gauteng City Region The province noted progress on the implementation of the Gauteng City Region and resolved to continue to support the process and further resolved that the alliance task team should be establish to monitor the implementation of this vision in the province and also to ensure that it benefit the part and the working class. In this regard we support the amalgamation of the Emfuleni with Midvaal to a Metro. We also support the Amalgamation of Randfontein and also Westonaria in Westrand. Gauteng 2055 Vision The meeting noted the process to formulate the 2055 vision by the Province. The PEC supported the process and resolved that the fragmentation in which each of the municipality seem to be also having various different plans must be engaged with and in this regard the Province must engage with both the state and also with the alliance to ensure that there is common long-term plan across the province. Organizational Section The meeting received a detail report on the state of the federation in the province and resolved as follows: Strengthening of the structures The PEC resolved to ensure that all its structures are functioning to the maximum strength and in this regard all the affiliates committed them to achieve such an objective. The PEC further resolved that the PEC should receive a detail report on the state of each and every structure in terms of attendance and decisions being taken to implement the provincial program of action. Affiliates The PEC received a detail report on the state of the affiliates and noted progress in dealing with some of the challenges which had emerged to split and divide affiliates. The PEC was happy with progress which has been registered to deal with the splinter groups in the province and steps being taken to improve the quality of service being provided by the unions to the member. Recruitment and Listening Campaign The meeting received a report on the progress to implement the campaigns in the federation and resolved that the campaigns must proceed to be implemented by all the affiliates in the province. The PEC further mandated the clusters and locals to be also involved in the implementation of the campaign. The PEC further resolved that the month of July and August will be dedicated to the campaign. In this regard several meetings of the affiliates, locals and Clusters will be convened. The meeting also congratulated the newly elected Cluster leaders across the province and resolved to provide all the support to them. 2014 National Election The meeting noted that this is the year of the election in preparation for the 2014 May Election. The meeting noted that this is the year where many political adventurisms emerge and many political parties are formed to mislead our people. The meeting resolved that the province will set up its election structures and also begin its election campaign for the decisive victory of the African National Congress. The PEC further adopted the election program of action towards the 2014 May Election. We also noted the day dreams of the Devils Alliance that they be targeting the province to govern post 2014 election. We will never allow such to occur in our lifetime. May-Day The meeting made an assessment of the 2013 May-Day and it was happy with the planning and attendance to the May-Day activity. It therefore resolved to host its 2014 May-Day in the City of Ekurhuleni. The clusters, Affiliates and the POB’s where then mandated to start the preparation for the 2014 May as of today.
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