Cosatu celebrates 40 years of advancing workers’ rights amid ongoing economic challenges

Cosatu will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on the 6th of December at Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto. 

This will be an occasion for workers to celebrate their many hard-won gains since the dark days of apartheid, state brutality and absolute misery.  It will be an opportunity to honour the many heroes of workers’ struggles from Ray Alexander organising clothing and laundry workers in the 1940s to Oscar Mpetha leading food and canning workers in the 1980s.  Most importantly it is a moment to recharge the labour movement to tackle the many challenges workers face today from 1% economic growth to 42% unemployment rates.

Cosatu, like all other labour formations, has no shortage of armchair critics who argue that unions are a burden to the economy and society, yet they shamefully choose to ignore the many victories Cosatu alongside the broader liberation movement, and progressive civil society and since 1994 under the ANC led government have helped to achieve.  These have benefited workers, society, the economy and the state.

First is to appreciate that the ending of apartheid was not by good luck but the combination of mass struggles, of which Cosatu, its affiliates and workers played a leading role, including through strikes in the mining sectors and other key parts of the economy. 

It is no accident that two South African Presidents, Kgalema Motlanthe and Cyril Ramaphosa, played leading roles in Cosatu.

Today South Africa is a non-racial and robust constitutional democracy, where the rule of law applies to all, where Parliament and the judiciary hold the state accountable and where today 60% of the budget is invested in uplifting working-class communities.

Post 1994, Cosatu with the ANC led government put in place a raft of progressive laws to protect workers, nurture labour market stability, and boost workplace productivity and economic growth.

The Labour Relations Act and the Constitution recognise workers’ right to strike and put in place measures to promote labour market stability, including through resolving workplace grievances at the CCMA.

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act provides minimum conditions for workers, including how many hours they can work, paid time-off, including maternity, adoption and parental leave.

The Occupational and Mine Health and Safety Acts guarantee workers the right to work in a safe environment where their health and safety are ensured.  This has seen the number of mining fatalities fall from 484 in 1994 to 42 in 2024.

The Unemployment Insurance Act provides paid maternity, parental and adoption leave and relief for workers who’ve lost their jobs or businesses struggling to pay salaries whilst embarking on turnaround plans.  During COVID-19, R65 billion was released from the UIF to help 5.7 million workers take care of their families whilst the economy was under lockdown.

The Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund provides relief to workers who’ve suffered workplace injuries, illnesses or even death.

The Employment Equity Act requires employers to put in place plans to provide equal opportunities for all workers, irrespective of race, gender or disability and to work towards reflecting the demographics of their communities and the nation.

The Skills Development Act has established a well-funded skills training regime to upgrade workers’ skills to help improve their career and earning potential and boost workplace productivity.

In 2019 the National Minimum Wage Act came into effect raising the wages of 6 million farm, domestic, retail, transport, hospitality, construction and other poorly paid workers; helping to reduce poverty and inequality and boost their ability to take care of their families.  Since then the NMW has increased by nearly 50%, acting as an economic stimulus.

Cosatu working with government, the UIF and business crafted a R3 billion investment package for Edgars in 2019, saving this South African giant and up to 140 000 direct and indirectly employed workers.

During COVID-19, Cosatu working with government and business through Nedlac helped put in place one of the world’s most comprehensive health and safety plans as well as economic and social relief packages, saving millions of lives and livelihoods.

In 2019 Cosatu initiated the Eskom Social Compact anchored upon the R253 billion debt relief package that played a key role enabling Eskom to end loadshedding which threatened millions of jobs.

It is Cosatu and its Affiliates which have played a leading role supporting the buy local campaigns as one of the most important ways to sustain and create local jobs, businesses and value chains. 

In 2024 the Two Pot Pension Reforms initiated by Cosatu came into effect releasing over R43 billion into the pockets of more than 3.5 million workers helping to ease their debt burdens, inject stimulus into the economy whilst simultaneously boosting long term savings.

Shop stewards have blown the whistle against public and private sector corruption, often paying for it with their lives.  Again, it was Cosatu that played a key role in bringing the Public Procurement Act to Parliament as a critical intervention to tackle state capture and corruption.

It is the ordinary members of Cosatu in the public service who help deliver our children, teach them at schools and keep them safe in communities.  It is the members of Cosatu in the private sector who produce the food, clothes, cars, minerals and medicine that society depends upon.

Whilst these and countless other victories that Cosatu has achieved over generations are immense, much remains to be done, in particular to ensure the state can provide the public and municipal services that society and the economy depend upon and to stimulate inclusive economic growth that creates decent work for all.

A strong Cosatu is fundamental to ensuring the success of South Africa’s transformation from the barbaric days of apartheid when Black, Coloured, Indian and female workers were treated little better than glorified slaves, to a society worthy of the laudable ideals of the Freedom Charter; a South Africa that belongs to all who live in it, where all are guaranteed the dignity of work and a better life.

Cosatu General Secretary Solly Phetoe

*** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

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