Picture: COSATU’s 2nd deputy president, Duncan Lovuno delivering his keynote address at Colridge stadium in Vryburg
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) said it will forge ahead in bringing unity amongst the working class. COSATU in North West, commemorated May Day at Colridge Stadium in Vryburg on Monday.
COSATU’s 2nd deputy president, Duncan Lovuno who was the keynote speaker said, workers cannot afford to be divided when they are under siege. Lovuno further said the message during this year’s May Day is that they must cherish, defend and constantly invest in unity.
“It is our key weapon as we wage the working class struggles. This May Day presents us with an opportunity to reflect and commit ourselves again to the ongoing fight against slave wages, retrenchments, and poor working conditions.
“This May Day is important for workers to celebrate the gains we have made since the dawn of democracy but at the same time reflect on the current challenges facing the workers and the working class of this country and the world.
We are dedicated to fostering a spirit of solidarity and cooperation amongst all unions, inside and outside of COSATU. We are pleased with the work being done by our affiliates to build unity on the ground across unions and across federations,” he said.
Lovuno further said, workers need to unite against rising extreme poverty, unprecedented levels of unemployment, deteriorating public services, and elite corruption. He added that, workers need to work together to deal with the rising cost of living and levels of indebtedness among them.
“We are calling on all unions to cooperate and work together during this year’s round of wage negotiations to fight for decent wages for the workers.
Workers deserve decent wages that will keep up with inflation so that, they can afford to put food on the table and feed and clothe their families.
“Our priority should be a pushback against the electricity and petrol price increases. We need to unite to fight against the government’s formulaic persistence with neo-liberal macroeconomic fiscal and monetary policies that have left many living lives of brute survival,” said Lovuno.
He said this important worker’s day originates over 137 years ago in 1886 when workers stood up and demanded eight hours of work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
The ANC provincial chairperson, Nono Maloyi said, they are celebrating Workers’ Day across the country because workers have fought for this right and deserve this. Maloyi said, there are a few challenges workers are confronted with at their respective workplaces, especially in terms of wages.
“So, we are not only celebrating but saluting them. You will remember the situation has improved since 1994. Now, workers are able to negotiate by sitting at a round table with employers. Another challenge is economic growth, COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges, and so on.
“However at times, we are able to meet demands made by workers. Sometimes the economy does not allow, but we have to work together all of us to ensure there is economic growth. We have a great relationship with our alliance partners and there will always be challenges,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party (SACP) provincial secretary, Madoda Sambatha shared the same sentiments. Sambatha said, the workers’ day is an International Day.
“Workers need to be united in the sector that they are working in irrespective of race and gender. At the centre of any success, there are workers and communities as beneficiaries. However, there is only 23% of workers who are organised and belong to unions.
“Remember, the unity of the workers is the basis of the unity of the community. Unity among the working class was able to fight capitalism. The majority of unemployed are still black and mostly women and youth,” he said.
The Guardian 