Date: 10/06/2009

Source: Congress of South African Trade Unions

Title: Cosatu: Ntshalintshali: Address by the Cosatu deputy
General secretary at the Cosatu national gender conference

Programme Director
Members of the NGCC
Leaders of the ANC and SACP
Leaders of the Affiliates
Invited Guests
Comrades

We are meeting at a time of many difficult challenges facing the world and our nation ranging from the global economic melt down, food crisis, climate change due to global warning, rising electricity prices. As we attempt to address them, we need to have a full understanding on how they affect us but in particular women, so that our responses are able to its meaning.

The three (3) remaining COSATU national office bearers (NOBs) are fully aware and appreciate the fact that this National Gender Conference would not be happening if it was not for the full cooperation, contribution and support of the NGCC members who put this conference preparation first above all others. On behalf of the NOBs we say: Thank you so much! NOBs would join your comment, comrade Louise, in paying respect to comrades Pretty and Violet. It is in this spirit of unselfishness and dedication that many are looking at the outcomes of the conference with interest. They hope that the outcome would find its way to the deliberations of the National Congress. We are hoping that the affiliates would adopt these outcomes as part of their resolutions to the COSATU Congress. First comment MC is that starting late should not reflect that this conference is not taken seriously.

The September Commission Chapter 8 states: "Building a movement of women workers", which was dedicated to late COSATU Organising Secretary, Dorothy Mokgalo, in defining our vision gives:

• A vision of a future where women participate equally in the labour market and the world of work without having to face gender barriers
• A vision of economic policies that include women emancipation.
• A vision of eradicating apartheid oppression and gender oppression in all spheres of society and in the workplace
• A vision of the trade union movement as a home for women workers, a movement which they know will fight for justice for women in the workplace and the economy.
• A vision of a trade union movement that plays a crucial role in empowering women and in challenging the unequal power relations between men and women.

You then said none of this can be achieved without taking into account the unequal division of labour in the household and ensuring that COSATU fights for socially provided childcare facilities and equal participation in household labour. This was said before the 6th National Congress in 1997.

In tabling the recommendation that formed the backbone of our programme, we must note that the recommendations will not in themselves bring about the desired result. That will require the political will and commitment of all affiliates and workers, to the principles of fighting against women's oppression in all its forms and striving for the improvement of women in COSATU. It will require the commitment of significant financial and other resources.

That report ended by identifying the role of the NGC:

a. It should focus in finalising the practical implementation and coordinating of our programme.
b. It should act as a vigorous policy structure to realise the goals of making COSATU a home for all workers.
c. It should act as a vigorous policing structure on economic policy and all other policies of COSATU.

The programmes identified in 1997 are more relevant now, and possible to implement, because the political development offers more space in influencing policies that can empower and realise our vision.

In order to re-vigourise ourselves, we need to look on what we said when we were considering the future unionism of our federation.

We said, we do not want to be zigzagging unionism. We do not want a Moses unionism but we want a social unionism and we defined social unionism as social in a sense that it is concerned with broad social and political issues, as well as the immediate concern of its members. It aims to be a social force for transformation. Its goal is democracy and socialism. Its influence on society is based on its organised power, its capacity to mobilse, its socio-economic programme and policies and its participation in political and social alliances. It is committed to worker control and democracy, and to maintaining its character as a movement. It is proactive and effective. It is able to negotiate and monitor complex agreements with government and employers. It is able to make important contributions to national economic and social development.

This definition is critical in taking forward our vision on building movement for women workers. It tends to be strategic, proactive and transformative. It should be our measurement as a subcommittee in determining our achievement.

Last week our worst fear of recession was confirmed. This economic crisis, we are told is going to be long between 8-10 years, its impact would be huge, devastating and would affect more the vulnerable, poor, unemployed, youth and women.

Unemployment would rise, poverty targeting programmes would be delayed, pensions pay-out would be threatened, formal sector would shrink, social protection would be in deficit.

While all these would be happening food prices would increase, so would be the petrol price, paraffin, electricity rates and employers would be calling for wage freeze and as if it is not enough there would be short time retrenchment and liquidation. The impact of all these would be felt more by women who would of the forefront of these struggles.

The vulnerable sector whose majority are women - contract cleaning, hospitality industry, retail, farm workers, domestic, private security sectors are hard hit.

The gender structure should and must influence the federation's response on these matters. Among others voices of women are strong, avoiding running to the bottom, decent work agenda is the cornerstone, refuse deflation, reject wage freeze, call for legislation against Executive Pay and bonuses.

On the political arena - Polokwane came and is gone, elections work is past, Government has been elected, Ministers have been appointed. What are the lessons for us and what new challenges do the news development offer?

These elections were the most difficult for various reasons:

1. Alliance as a whole ridiculed - painted as corrupt and should not be trusted by people
2. Recession - unemployment and poverty suggested to ordinary; people as failure of ANC government.
3. Dissidents - our own - people with liberation credentials - turning against the movement
4. Former trade unionist leaders - were used to spearhead the attacks on COSATU.

Lessons:

1. Ordinary South Africans strongly believe in the Alliance and working together from Polokwane - Manifesto, Dec 16, Launch in Monti gave them hope.
2. Ordinary South Africans will always remember the role the ANC played in bringing back their dignity- remember those who dedicated their lives.
3. Many Africans including organised Business know that it was only the ANC that has experience of being a government - has a Plan in manifesto.
4. Ordinary people especially workers love honesty - ANC spoke about achievements but equally about failures and challenges - did not shift blame to other Political Parties.
5. Members of organisations especially workers re-affirmed that no matter how popular a leader might be they are members of an organisation not individual.

So elections are gone - government elected. New challenges have arisen. It is time to work - work with speed - so that in the next 18 months we can go to our people with Pride and say we are delivering to the Promises of the Manifesto.

In conclusion we have deployed our own to government and they have been appointed onto new portfolios - Women Ministry and Economic Development; they will need your support in identifying priority areas:

a. Debate around Reproductive Policy
b. Debate around sex workers
c. Debate around home labour
d. How consciously legislation or policy address needs of women

As I said at the beginning, the 1997 September Commission report on women in Chapter 8 is more relevant than ever before. Wishing you all the success, we have confidence that this conference would live up to its expectations.