* South Africa: Tripartite Alliance Calls for Worker Rally, October 26

COSATU and the Alliance Convene workers rally

3 October 2012

The Congress of South African Trade Unions and its alliance partners, the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and SANCO are convening a workers’ rally, as part of the program in defence of the working class and the alliance.

The purpose of the rally is to update workers on the political situation and the attack on the working class, which is disguised as an attack on the NUM, and the fight for the recognition of other trade unions who do not qualify to be recognised in terms of our labour laws and the constitution of South Africa.

COSATU is resuming its programme which was postponed during the 11th national congress to ensure that there is quality service to the workers and the leadership of the federation is in touch with the members all the time.

The workers rally is also responding to the challenges facing the federation regarding its membership service by its unions. We will also report back to our members on the resolutions from our national congress including the fight for the living wage campaign.

The workers rally will be addressed by the general secretary of COSATU, comrade Zwelinzima Vavi, the general secretary of SACP, comrade Blade Nzimande, and the secretary general of the ANC comrade Gwede Mantashe

The rally will be held on 26 October 2012 in Rustenburg and will be preceded by the provincial shop stewards council which will give feed back to the shops stewards of the province from all affiliates on the work of the federation and plan for the coming year. The shop steward councils will be held on 18 October 2012 and it will also be in Rustenburg

COSATU remains committed to defend the workers and the working class. All workers are requested to report all their labour matters to the federation.

As part of our work we think that workers must be defended from real opportunists who want to use workers for their own political agenda and use workers for the recognition which they do not have.

Workers’ demands are supported by the federation which will be leading the campaign on wages and the improvement of all workers’ conditions in all sectors, including the mining industry.

For more information contact Solly Phetoe COSATU North West Provincial Secretary at 082 304 4055