The WFTU and its Affiliates in South Africa COSATU, NEHAWU, NUM, POPCRU and CEPPWAWU militantly greeted the 2018 International Action Day by organizing a 2 days Seminar on October 1-2 and a militant demonstration on October 3rd under the main slogan: “Ensure social security and free healthcare for all”.
The Seminar was adressed by the WFTU President cde. Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba, and cadres of all the affiliates of WFTU in the country which actively took the floor.
The keynote speeches were addressed by Anda Anastasaki, WFTU Head Office General Coordinator on the topics of the International Relations and Organisations and Giakoumelos Christoforos from the WFTU Head Office on the topic “Working class today”.
The national Treasurer of COSATU cde Freda Oosthuysen, the deputy gs of POPCRU cde Nomalanga Mabokela, the National Treasurer of NEHAWU cde Gilda Kamotso, the WFTU Women’s Coordinator Grace Mathapelo Kayne of NUM, a big delegation of CEPPWAWU and many other first line cadres have participated actively in the debates and enriched the discussions.
The topics were:
Day 1
- Working Class Today
- Evolving social composition of the working class in the era of neoliberalism – the emerging challenges
- Strategic goals of the working class – End of exploitation
- Role of the working class in ending exploitative system
- Social alliances of the working class – worker-poor peasant strategic alliance
- Proletarian Internationalism
- Need to oppose racism, xenophobia, ultra nationalism
- Development of Neo-fascist parties in Europe
- Solidarity and struggle for political refugees and migrants.
- Role of Trade Unions and working class against imperialist wars
- Message of solidarity and support among trade union organisations
Day 2
- International Organizations
- The role and character of ILO
- The role and character of the UN
- The role and character of UNESCO
- The role and character of FAO
- The utilization of these Organisations by the class – oriented trade unions
- Promotion of so called “independent” or yellow trade unions by the employers and the governments, also by the ILO
- Working class and media; social media
- International Relations
- The importance and role of international relations of each trade union.
- The choice of the proper cadres with the ideological and organizational preconditions
- The exchange of experiences among trade unions of sectors and countries
- The organizational and logistic issues of International relations
- The need of supplying financial resources for the support of international relations.