Peter+Dwyer+and+the+Right+to+Work+campaign


 * Comrades**,

I am rather surprised at Comrade Dominic's tone and criticism of the AIDC Right to Work (R2W) campaign and conference announcement (as are some of the subscribers to the list who forwarded it to me).

Firstly, comrade Dominic has known of this campaign for at least a month or two (perhaps longer?) as he was present at the COSATU national education planning workshop that I as a representative of the R2W was invited to in Joburg. At this meeting I explained the campaign at which he nor anybody else from the party or COSATU who were present. Such was the comradely nature of my involvement there I seem to recall Francis from the YCL saying he would like me to address the CC about popular education. Perhaps Dominic is not aware that the R2W has been invited by COSATU to support a whole range of events over the past year or so. The R2W has also invited COSATU and various affiliates and the SACP/YCL to our workshops and meetings across the country in the last year or so. Indeed, several leading COSATU officials will be attending our conference.

Secondly, the campaign is certainly not an alternative to the Jobs and Poverty campaign and has never said it is (proof to the contrary is therefore needed). Thirdly, some R2W activists and people who attend our local meetings are members of the ANC, SACP and COSATU. Fourthly, if Dominic looks in back issues of the Shop Steward he will see R2W placards on pictures of Jobs and Poverty demonstrations (we have attended all the marches in the 6 places we have groups, and also SATAWU marches against TRANSNET restructuring). In East London we have been invited by the COSATU leadership and have participated on the recent pickets there as part of the Jobs and Poverty campaign and here in CT R2W comrades helped organise bail for Tony Ehrenreich and others arrested the other day.

I would therefore fraternally ask comrades to consider if this really is a rival campaign or denounces the leadership of COSATU and the ANC? Should anyone have any questions about the campaign or indeed like to attend the conference, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Peter

Yesterday’s remark here about the Cape Town NGO called AIDC has drawn to the CU the old familiar cry: “Stalinist!” The first AIDC “Right-to-Work” e-mail is not to hand (technical problems) but a later one is available (see link). It is from AIDC’s Dr **//Peter Dwyer//**, in the listserv “DEBATE”.

The main question is: How can you support a campaign while at the same time organising a rival one? COSATU has a **//Jobs and Poverty//** campaign, so AIDC, denouncing the leadership of COSATU and the ANC, starts a competing one called by an old familiar name: “**//Right to Work//**”. And if one then points out a difficulty in this contradiction, why does one thereby become a “Stalinist”? These questions are specific to this moment, and they are also general questions. They have to do with spontaneity versus science, and with mass versus vanguard. They cannot be shooed away with epithets.

AIDC, 129 Rochester Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7705. South Africa.
 * Dr Peter Dwyer

TEL: 021 447 5770 CELL: 0847694133 FAX: 021 447 5884 [|www.aidc.org.za] 544 words