The 13th Congress of the TUI PS&A of WFTU concluded its works today with optimism and enthusiasm for the organization of the new struggles of the workers in the public services.
The Congress elected the new General Secretary of the TUI PS, comrade Zola Saphetha from NEHAWU, South Africa.
At his speech, the WFTU General Secretary, comrade George Mavrikos pointed out the importance of the TUIs which are the heart of the WFTU and called for the strengthening of the action and coordination of the TUI PS&A.
You can see the speech of comrade Zola Saphetha below:
WFTU General Secretary
TUI President
PEO General Secretary
The Outgoing TUI General Secretary and Secretariat
Delegates, Comrades and Friends
Kindly receive our profound revolutionary greetings on behalf of the newly elected collective of the TUI Public and Allied Workers and its general membership across the globe, a united family of militant, class-oriented trade union movement – uniting workers in the global-north and global-south.
As a strong and strategic component of the class oriented World Federation of the Trade Unions (WFTU), we wish to affirm our understanding that societies’ progress, change and development is through class struggles; hence will continue to mobilise the working class, working people in particular to venture into a real revolution to overthrow capitalism and replace it with socialism by intensifying class consciousness amongst and in between the TUI and eventually the WFTU.
We will do this through ensuring the continuous common struggles which are of particular importance at this stage of overcoming capitalist crisis, where the bourgeoisie in every country of the world is attacking the working class – through drastic wage and pension cuts, intensification of exploitation, lack of social security and even using violence against the struggling workers and working class in general.
At the moment, there is a great need for us, the militants to close ranks to be closer to one another and to unite in the spirit of our radical internationalism.
It is imperative to note that the conditions and terms of our work might seem different in many ways but the exploitation is the same, simply because we do not enjoy the wealth we create daily with our toil.
Given this reality, our main task as trade unions today is to bring workers under militant demands and slogans that reveal the only way to get rid of our problems – to abolish exploitation of a man by man. This is a task that can only be carried out by the growing family of class-conscious WFTU, working with their reenergising vanguard movement of communist and workers parties. The class-collaborationist and bureaucratic leadership layer of ITUC is a stumbling block in this regard, against which workers in some countries have started to revolt.
At this successful XIII Congress, we reaffirm the internationalist slogan expressed in 1848 Communist Manifesto, Chapter 1 in particular when dealing with the bourgeoisie and proletariat “Workers of the World Unite, You have nothing to lose but your chains”!
In doing so, we must continue to keep the WFTU & TUI – PS&A within the principles and values of unity, proletarian internationalism and solidarity which inspires us to advance the ideological onslaught against imperialist wars. This must include intensifying our solidarity action in support of Cuba against the American blockade, as we mark the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the CTC and the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution this year.
At this congress of the Public Service Trade Unions affiliated to the class-oriented WFTU, we were afforded an opportunity to identify common challenges confronting workers in the public service sector across the world for unity in action, whilst at the same time appreciated the need to support individual country-based campaigns under international solidarity work of the TUI-PS&A – guided by the battle-cry of this world congress, we are saying to all workers of around the world: Join the struggle against privatisation – Defend Workers’ Rights!
These common campaigns should strongly remain as an integral part of the WFTU 75th Anniversary Celebration activities in 2020 – in order to ensure the presence of TUI-PS&A across the world.
In this regard, we call for an urgent Secretariat in South Africa by March 2020 to discuss amongst others:
– TUI PS&A Unity of Action
– Functional Regional Structures in all Continents
– Best mechanisms to improve communications
– Systematic internal vision for better coordination of TUI PS&A work
– Financial viability of TUI PS&A through implementing subscription fee decision
– Increase the presence of TUI PS&A
– Mobilisation Strategy to ensure more workers to the fold of PS&A
– Comprehensive Program for 75th Anniversary Celebrations of WFTU
In conclusion, we want to thank the outgoing collective for convening this successful XIII Congress, the Cyprus comrades for hosting and their hospitality, WFTU General Secretary for his ever availability and leadership and representatives from all continents across the globe for their qualitative contributions and sharing of their situations in their respective countries.
May everyone present at this congress travel back home safely till we meet again.
Viva the Bolivarian revolution in Latin America!
Down with US Imperialist counter-revolution!
Viva AKEL!
Viva WFTU!
Viva TUI Public and Allied Workers!
Amandla!