The SACP congratulates NEHAWU in Gauteng for convening its provincial congress.

It is in times of the profound crisis of the capitalist system, where working people are faced with the most vicious frontal onslaught, through attacks on jobs, working conditions and livelihoods, that a strong, united, class-oriented trade union movement such as NEHAWU is most desired.

In this regard, foremost in the SACP message, is the call for the rigorous building of strong unity of NEHAWU, a necessary precondition for the international class oriented trade union movement that is opposed to capitalism, imperialism and the barbarism that originate from it.

In sectors where it organises, NEHAWU is a well placed instrument to consolidate workplace struggles in the interest of its members, our alliance and society.

In complement of these important struggles therefore, the union must retain its sharp focus on its three pronged approach, “strong workplace organisation, ideological consciousness and internationalism”, because this led NEHAWU to correctly estimate and recognise from far, the creeping in of rightwing opportunist currents in the trade union federation, under the broad ideological spell of local and international capitalist forces, which were trying to weaken our federation Cosatu.

The SACP greets the NEHAWU provincial congress and in cognisance of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) 17th World Trade union Congress taking place in Durban next week, 05-08 October 2016, wishes NEHAWU good deliberations and a successful outcome.

Issued by SACP Gauteng