Worker unity key to defeating class enemy

COSATU Picture:SANDILE MAKHOBA

COSATU Picture:SANDILE MAKHOBA

Published May 3, 2015

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Managing present tensions is crucial to avert serious divisions, writes Gwede Mantashe.

Johannesburg - Collectively as the country and as organised labour we have grown accustomed to May 1 being the day when workers display their unity and solidarity. On this day, the organised working class recalls its progress, shortcomings and obstacles in its struggle to achieve better working and living conditions.

Unfortunately, May 1, 2015 will be recorded in the history of the struggle of the working people as one marred by fissures in the biggest trade union federation, Cosatu. This disunity is being manifested in myriad ways: the expulsion of Numsa from Cosatu, the expulsion of Cosatu’s general secretary by the central executive committee, the boycott of Cosatu meetings by seven affiliates, and the murders of unionists.

These events could be characterised as the period in which the federation passes through the eye of the storm. The critical challenge is whether it will stay the course and make it through the turbulence.

At this decisive moment, to ensure that, despite the final outcome, Cosatu emerges stronger and intact, it is imperative we gain a perspective of how the federation got to this point.

Thirty years ago, the efforts of workers and ANC activists culminated in the formation of a giant federation, Cosatu. At the time the federation was 300 000-strong, growing over time to 2.5 million, before the recent expulsion of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA.

The purpose of this recollection is to remind us that Cosatu, as a federation, is not – and never was – intended to be an organisation of like-minded people. Its members’ common platform is the unity of workers with the objective of corroding the base of their class enemy, capital. This is what informed the old slogan: united we stand, divided we fall.

It is in their collective unity that the organised working class is able to make gains and advance their struggle. The differences in opinions and ideologies of affiliates are something that is engaged in the day-to-day work of each union and the federation.

The weakness that has emerged, on both sides of the division in the federation, is a lack of appreciation of this dynamic relationship, where unions can be united yet hold divergent views on different aspects.

The attempt now is to seek to ensure that everyone thinks the same and holds the same ideological position. In the end, this gives rise to contestation and unnecessary antagonism in a common class.

It would seem, too, that unions on both sides of the divide are not alive to the effects a fragmented Cosatu would have on them. They lack an appreciation of the reality that once there has been a split, it is likely to recur as some may think this is a way of resolving of whatever they perceive to be problem.

It is far more difficult to rebuild once there has been a fracture.

Another weakness is the lack of appreciation for the principle of worker solidarity, which derives from the principle of unity. This solidarity is characterised by the understanding of the idea of one industry, one union. This is what informed the merger of small associations and unions in a specific industry into one strong union.

What has developed is a situation where individual unions are expanding their scope, in the main to broaden their base. The result is conflict between Cosatu affiliates, as others feel encroached upon. This has pitted sister unions against each other, creating bitter rivalries.

The broadening of scope also points to changing dynamics in the workplace and industries stemming from globalisation, innovation and technological developments, among other factors. This is the matter Cosatu should rather discuss honestly, alongside the possibility of mergers of even some of its big affiliates.

The ANC task team assisting Cosatu through these difficulties, informed by this situation, proposed that the federation create a mechanism to arbitrate on these issues. This would have gone a long way to avoid or, at least, manage the tensions.

It is important to caution against the notion of general unions, which is what will result from the expansion of scope by individual unions. In most countries where this has happened, trade union federations have been weakened. The reality emerging is that of unions being larger and stronger than the federation. It also means the union’s focus is blurred by amassing too many sectors, as opposed to being industry-based.

Another factor that has plagued Cosatu is a focus on personalities rather than the unity of workers. Creating personality cults leads to affiliates hero-worshipping one or the other leader and following them blindly, even when they are a source of tension and division.

Experiences in the ANC, which was divided according to which leader one or the other group supported, should serve as a lesson for our ally. The organisation is larger than the personalities who lead it. The needs of the people, unity of the workers and servicing them are far too important to be sacrificed through the blind following of one leader or the other.

Money has become another factor. It is a fact that the investment arms of the trade unions have accrued a lot of wealth, amounting to billions. This has become a source of strife, with the main issue being who will ultimately control the purse.

What makes the challenges facing Cosatu even more poignant is that they come a critical time in the context of our overall struggle. Globally, progressive parties and governments are under tremendous attack from the right wing and populist formations.

In our case, the attack on our movement seeks to delegitimise it and challenge its authority as the state through anarchy, with the aim of usurping power.

In the national and the international scenario, some in the media play a supporting role in this delegitimisation, without paying attention to the negative impact this would have on society and what the final outcome may be.

In this context, it is of concern to be confronted with serious divisions in an ally like Cosatu. It weakens the solidity of the movement and the agenda for a radical transformation of our society. It plays into the hands of those opposed to the national democratic revolution as a whole.

The unity of the federation is important. Such unity requires that all affiliates be brought together under the umbrella of Cosatu, irrespective of their views or political persuasion. Those who are expelled or who are boycotting should be engaged. The federation’s constitution should be adhered to. Unions that have taken resolutions contrary to it should be nudged to rescind them and be brought back into the fold.

Unity is workers’ guarantee of defeating its class enemy. And no amount of revolutionary sounding sloganeering can achieve that.

Basebenzi manyanani! Kopano ke matla!

* Mantashe is the ANC secretary-general.

** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.

The Sunday Independent

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