Cosatu members determine core three-year work plan
THE 240 000 members of Cosatu from the 14 affiliates across the labour market were represented at its provincial congress held from June 23-24 in Cape Town.
The delegates had robust engagements on the various areas confronting workers and working families in the Country and in the Western Cape. The key decisions area is outlined below and will form the core of the Cosatu work over the next three years: Organisationally The main responsibility of Cosatu is to represent its members in workplaces and there is an urgent need to restore unity and cohesion in all of the affiliates, to ensure more effective servicing. The divisions of the past must be set aside as we embark on this new call for unity and organisational renewal. There is an urgent need to prepare ourselves to confront the effects of artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, so that jobs can be defended and created. Cosatu must build the local structures in all rural areas, so it can service members and take up campaigns on the challenges facing members. Socio-conomically Cosatu will be taking up campaigns on the various socio-economic areas that affect the members of Cosatu and
the working class, which include the following areas:
The urgent need to address water challenges in Western Cape, the pricing
of water and cutting off of water to communities must be confronted.
The need to ensure equality of prospects of learners in education must
be reinforced by equality of resources and facilities, in all schools, through the equitable share of funding. Cosatu will further campaign against the privatisation of education and will demand decent equality public education.
The war zones in the Cape Flats must be addressed and a more effective plan to improve safety from gangs and drugs must be advanced.
The health services are deteriorating and the cuts in services from the provincial government must be confronted, through the implementing of National Health Insurance.
Cosatu will be fast tracking expropriation without compensation in the province and wants to stop the sale of productive land to foreigners.
Cosatu will be fighting VAT increases and hold a demonstration at government against the effects of increases.
Cosatu must launch a campaign against the greed of financial services and will promote a state bank and start steps to boycott MTN as the data and call costs are corrupt.
Cosatu will intensify its campaign against the dysfunctional transport system and demand decisive improvements to the system that moves MyCiti buses from wealthy areas to areas of greater need.
Politically Cosatu reaffirms its commitment
to the election victory of the ANC in the Western Cape and will actively campaign.
Cosatu wants the alliance to function more effectively and will demand its reconfiguration, to ensure more effective functioning.
Cosatu wants the alliance to jointly decide on the election manifesto that includes workers interest and wants to see joint governance through an effective deployment policy .
Cosatu and the SACP will work together more closely to advance the working-class interest and socialist ambitions.
The alliance must expose all corrupt leaders and expel them from the ANC, which must restore the credibility of the liberation movement.
The conference has made calls for the inclusion of Tony Ehrenreich in the ANC elections, to assist with the call for a decisive election victory in the Western Cape.
The following leaders were elected at the congress for the next three years: chairperson – Motlatsi Tsubane, vice-chairperson – Andile Ngqameka, treasurer – Ingrid Leukes, secretary –