A response to Ichumile Gqada’s perspective on COSATU
by: Mihlali Gqada
The remnants of a combative union movement formed in 1973 are today a historical glare into what then was but today is not. Like all major liberation and emancipative fraternities the labour movement has since democracy lost its vigour or sold its soul to megalithic disparate power squabbles. COSATU South Africa’s trade union federation formed in 1985, with currently 21 affiliated unions is deemed as Africa’s largest and most ‘disciplined’ trade union. COSATU has in recent years moved from representation and issue based debates to hauling magnates associating with those in our midst who are clearly perplexed. The internal debates currently brewing in the trade union range from, who is to contest who in the upcoming National General Council, who is supporting Zuma and what is he to benefit, while nothing is being said about workers needs. Ironically, the CCMA was smuggled in as a necessary negotiating tool, necessitated by the Labour Relations Act, to ensure adequate redress for workers; now this CCMA is today solving the squabbles between Vavi and Modisha, the two heavy weights of COSATU.
With the recent slurs at any and every initiative by the ANC, COSATU has managed to al bait against its own ideological prescripts (doggy and unknown to me at this point in time), speak about possibilities of pulling out of the Tripartite Alliance, no doubt to join the SACP’s brewing ambitions to go it alone in 2009. Forgetting that the plus 3 million cattle’s it speaks of are in majority ANC supporters and or members, who seek mere representation at work. Seemingly we have learnt nothing from the Zimbabwean used to be a trade union movement, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), how after attaining little power, broke down due to individual power mongolism.
If anything COSATU is slowly loosing its plot as a worker union, with its soul mandate being the betterment of workers civil liberties and privileges. The current leadership has done little no justice for such worker liberties, instead like the ominous; boding evil ANC Youth League has made Zuma its soul program since the ‘conspiracy’ allegations began. We now have to contend with Vavi’s face at every turn of our media reports, chanting and slinging, raying on the saga heavily, for his own personal benefits of cause. As if that is not enough, as though the world ‘conspiracy’ is new to his vocabulary, he uses it in calamitous access, now Modisha, the elusive president of the federation is conspiring to outs him, simply because he does not support him for Sec Gen for the second term; what ever happened to the democratic rights of all citizens.
As the battle for power continues, workers are suffering, the work of the movement takes a back seat and regrettably we have to contend with listening to COSATU”s bickering…
Question: what is the real cause of the succession debate
Answer: personal desires for power, as if Vavi can really be a minister (I surely will not live to see that day)
I respite my crate
The remnants of a combative union movement formed in 1973 are today a historical glare into what then was but today is not. Like all major liberation and emancipative fraternities the labour movement has since democracy lost its vigour or sold its soul to megalithic disparate power squabbles. COSATU South Africa’s trade union federation formed in 1985, with currently 21 affiliated unions is deemed as Africa’s largest and most ‘disciplined’ trade union. COSATU has in recent years moved from representation and issue based debates to hauling magnates associating with those in our midst who are clearly perplexed. The internal debates currently brewing in the trade union range from, who is to contest who in the upcoming National General Council, who is supporting Zuma and what is he to benefit, while nothing is being said about workers needs. Ironically, the CCMA was smuggled in as a necessary negotiating tool, necessitated by the Labour Relations Act, to ensure adequate redress for workers; now this CCMA is today solving the squabbles between Vavi and Modisha, the two heavy weights of COSATU.
With the recent slurs at any and every initiative by the ANC, COSATU has managed to al bait against its own ideological prescripts (doggy and unknown to me at this point in time), speak about possibilities of pulling out of the Tripartite Alliance, no doubt to join the SACP’s brewing ambitions to go it alone in 2009. Forgetting that the plus 3 million cattle’s it speaks of are in majority ANC supporters and or members, who seek mere representation at work. Seemingly we have learnt nothing from the Zimbabwean used to be a trade union movement, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), how after attaining little power, broke down due to individual power mongolism.
If anything COSATU is slowly loosing its plot as a worker union, with its soul mandate being the betterment of workers civil liberties and privileges. The current leadership has done little no justice for such worker liberties, instead like the ominous; boding evil ANC Youth League has made Zuma its soul program since the ‘conspiracy’ allegations began. We now have to contend with Vavi’s face at every turn of our media reports, chanting and slinging, raying on the saga heavily, for his own personal benefits of cause. As if that is not enough, as though the world ‘conspiracy’ is new to his vocabulary, he uses it in calamitous access, now Modisha, the elusive president of the federation is conspiring to outs him, simply because he does not support him for Sec Gen for the second term; what ever happened to the democratic rights of all citizens.
As the battle for power continues, workers are suffering, the work of the movement takes a back seat and regrettably we have to contend with listening to COSATU”s bickering…
Question: what is the real cause of the succession debate
Answer: personal desires for power, as if Vavi can really be a minister (I surely will not live to see that day)
I respite my crate
Candid Chat
posted by Woman of Sparta (Spartans) @ 2:38 AM
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