trade unionism.
Engels took this question up in a series of articles in the Labour Standard in 1881. After considering the functions of the unions as a means of regulating the rate wages resistance against capital he notes that this function 'does not exhaust our subject.' A struggle between great classes sociely necessarily becomes a political struggle', Engels because the end goal is 'to abolish the wages system altogether: In South Africa, today the goal is the revolutionary overthrow of the apar theid system of rule.
Agreement principle of the need for unions to be fully involved in politics was a crucial factor which made possible the unity of the trade unions in South Africa. Ot course there were other important issues — in particular, the agreement registered on the non-racial character of the new federation. In addition, a of organisational matters Leaving aside the futile benefits of this entire exercise, Carter's assessment is just wrong. For a start, these were not the decisive points of contention between FOSATU and the ANC during the fusion 'two racialism' can hardly FOSATU's imprint alone! can anyone see COSATU's commitment to industrial unionism as "proof' of the stamp of FOSATU as opposed SACTU WEen slogans Union, One Industry, One Country, One Federation'?
Equally paying membership. signing Sonicac without community-based meetings was reJectea in ine rusion, out is wrong le give such weight to the practice of one particular union and then to identify gle. talks. 'Nonne seen And how founding of SACTU were for 'One Barayi on the issue of dues.
The method of members, lalil. wayllicull around a specific axis. Carter's article is misleading because he ignores the main question — and the main lesson of the experience of the recent months: the need for the unions to get more involved in the political strugCarter gets the basis of convergence wrong so he can't explain how, although the ANC-inspired unions were so organisationally weak comparison to FOSATU or the NUM, many of the leaders of the new union federation - including Elijah — were members of the ANC until it was banned Finally dwelling on previous difterences between the torces that are today united is not the kind of contribuțion that we, as socialists in Brican best make today ‹ lo ine South African revolution. However, Carter raised the issue. To allow his one-sided assessment to go by unchallenged may have proved to be an
Socialist Action 28 February 1986