Preamble to constitution We the trade union representatives here present firmly commit ourselves to a united, democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation.
We believe that this can only be achieved under the leadership of a united working class. Our historv has taught us that to achieve this goal we have to carry out the following • TASKS.
• 10 ortalise the workers and build effective unions based the organisation of workers in the factories, mines, shops, farms, and other workorces.
• Organise national their worker members democratically elected committees.
• Unify these industrial unions, into a national, worker-controlled federation.
• Combat the divisions amongst the workers of South Africa and unite them into a strong wOrK Class • Encourage democratic organisations and leadership in all spheres of our society together with other progressive sectors of the community.
Reinforce encourage
gressive Inlemnanonal worker contact solidarity SO as to assist one We call on all those who identify with this commitment to join us and the workers wholl we coresent as comrades in the struggle ahead. We call on all trade unions to silve allu their members in their ranks without discrimination predjudice, shall determinedly seek to further and protect the interests of all and that its guiding motto shall be the universal slogan working solidarity: 'An injury to one is an injury to all.
Federalism This congress noting that: dustrialisation South Africa's bitter history of inand exploitation has for the netempon attempts by the Create separate states and nations. 3. That the intention of the proposed federal system is to maintain and control in the hands of the present minority and perpetuate an oppressive and exploitative system. 4. That the demand of all progressive aemocratic Africa is for a unitary state based on one person, one vote.
Resolves to:
Reaffirm OUT venel in a unitary state based on one person, 3. Work towards the destruction of all barriers and divisions so that we are united irrespective of language, race, And further believes that only with the total unification of all people into South Africa will we be able to rebuild our rich land and make a real contribution to breaking the chains poverty economic WHEN COSATU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, was formed last year, it brought together unions whose membership totalled over half a million. It adopted resolutions on all the decisive political issues facing the black people of South Africa: on the kind of South African state it wanted, on the State of Emergency, on the homelands policy, on the pass laws, on women, and many other questions of civil rights, as well as on the basic trade union issues of the right to strike, the formation of the industrial unions, and inter-union co-operation in Southern Africa as a whole.
We reprint some of the resolutions agreed by COSATU, together with extracts from a recent speech by Oliver Tambo on the new union federation. Tambo's speech was broadcast over the ANC's Radio Freedom and was delivered on 8 January. The text is taken from a pamphlet issued by the ANC's Lusaka office.
that bind Africa Allied Workers Union)
State of Emergency 1.
That the cause unorganised apartheid system, be no peace while it exists. democrane Calls for:
State of Emergency. industrial through townships.
and confident worker sperity.
Workers Union)
Bantustans proThe congress noting:
just struggie 2. That VarOus Ullilc sed people Noting SAAWU wOrkers Workers Union) in the banning killing of trade unionists tions.
Hereby resolves that:
forces for apartheid reconstruct fully prepared power tive means at our disposal. 3. That we are solutely opposed South the idea tions of work. those vantustalls (Composite resolution)
Right to strike This federation noting:
their of exploitation (Proposed by the Sweet, Food and •This inaugural conference believing:
That the declaration of a State of Emergency has been used to wage a war of repression against all sections of the oppressed communities and to try to crush democratic organisations.
Not all South Africa is the existence of the and that there can 1. For the immediate lifting of the 2. For the withdrawal of the SADF (South African Defence Force) and all apartheid security forces from the 3. For the unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees, the unbalming or bannea marviauals anc organisation, as a prelude to the creation of a democratic South Africa where all shall live in peace and pro-t (Proposed by the General and Allied 1. That the bantustan system was imposed on the African people, against their will, with a view to thwarting the Vote in a unitary South Africa. Une Person, bantustan administrations have practised extreme torms or oppression against the oppres - including trade unions.
in particular the banning of black shop steward who died recently in police custody collective bargaining. 3. That freedom of associalion, assembly, and picketing for strike action are also fundamental rights, internationally, in an industrial strug4. That the infringement or curbing of these rights is detrimental to the social and economic interests of the WOrKerS *5. That the right to strike is severely curtailed in South Africa. 6. That a strike involves a democratic form of struggle. 7. That picketing is an integral part of a strike and of morally persuading fellow workers not to break a strike. 8. That essential service workers are not allowed to take industrial action in pursuing their demands.
Therefore resolves:
To continue a relentless campaign which will allow workers full freedom association assembley, Police anti-riot tanks hover over demonstrators at the funeral of a picketing for strike action.
removed followed mutually strikes.
measures to be outlawed. 3.0 campaign tervention in disputes ums to establish strike runas tees equal rights. (Composite resolution)
This reforms of schulll)
agreed dispute during such ment This requires that eviction form from accommodation and other such respond vigorously against police and state intices. strikes 4. To fight for the right of trade OU.
5. To ensure that strikers are free to establish and control strike commit- mains the South 6. To fight for the removal of the designation of essential services and principle that all workers be allowed to share Disinvestment This congress: 1. Believes that all forms of intern tional pressure on the South Africa government including disinves is an essential and effecti pressure African regime and we support it. 2. Further believes that it this gover ment remains intransigent in its racis antidemocratic, and antiworker pra then this pressure will have! increase as ar act of solidarity wil struggle for hoeration trom e ploitation and oppression.
. Commits ourselves to the social wealth of South Africa r Africa for the benefit of al further of workir class solidarity action with our stru (Proposed by CCAWUSA)
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1. Reject as a total fraud the new pro- posed federal solution.
legislation that denies these rights be 2. To ensure that where workers have