Hlatshwayo,+Khanya,+COSATU+concept+paper

Khanya College
=Reflecting on twenty years of COSATU, 1985 - 2005=


 * Introduction**

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) was formed in 1985 at the height of township struggles against apartheid. COSATU is one of the key working class organisations that contributed immensely to the struggle against apartheid and capitalism. This year marks COSATU’s 20th anniversary and this provides the South African working class and its organisations an opportunity to draw a balance sheet of the federation since its inception in 1985.

In line with that Khanya College, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which provided support service for the federation and its affiliates and continues to work with working class organizations in poor communities, is hosting a conference to assess COSATU since its formation. The conference will be preceded by various related activities such as seminars, a cultural festival and exhibitions. These activities are meant to build the momentum for the conference scheduled for **20 – 22 October 2005** at the Workers Library Museum in Newtown, Johannesburg.

This concept paper provides a motivation for a discussion on the legacy of COSATU, the specific objectives of the evaluation of COSATU, the target group, the format of the conference in October and papers to be delivered at the conference.

Why should we reflect on COSATU?

 * COSATU and the struggle against apartheid**

1. COSATU is one of the key working class organisations that emerged from the 1973 Durban strikes wave. Some of the key trade unions in the history of the South African working class, which were part of COSATU in 1985, can easily trace their origins to the Durban strikes. For example, the Metal and Allied Workers’ Union (MAWU) and the National Union of Textile Workers (NUTW) were formed in 1973 during the strikes.

The formation of COSATU in 1985 was a gigantic step forward for the trade union movement and the working class as a whole. With over half a million paid up members in 1985, COSATU was bound to have a major impact on political and economic struggles in the country.

Given the importance of the federation, the proposed conference on COSATU and the related activities will reflect on the impact of COSATU on the economic and political struggles during apartheid, and will draw lessons for social and economic struggles today.

On the other hand, the conference also provides an opportunity for activists to debate challenges facing COSATU and the labour movement today, and their implications for the broader working class struggle in the context of neoliberal globalisation.


 * The specific objectives of the Conference**

1. To remember and celebrate the struggles of the South African working class waged under the banner of COSATU since 1985.

2. To reflect on campaigns, struggles, policies, tactics, and strategies employed by COSATU since 1985 with the view of drawing lessons for the present and future struggles of the working class and the poor.

3. To provide a platform for social movements and trade union activists to methodically assess COSATU’s politics, its approach to organisational questions, gender, the alliance, international solidarity and xenophobia, and its attitude to the state, social movements and communities in apartheid South Africa.

4. To introduce the new layer of activists in trade unions and social movements to debates on socialism; the Freedom Charter; the Azanian Manifesto; trade unions organisational form; and the relationship between trade unions, community issues and struggles against apartheid and the workers’ party.

5. To reflect on COSATU’s response to challenges of globalisation such as increasing retrenchments, unemployment, work reorganisation, and the informal sector.


 * The target group**

The conference will target grassroots activists from trade unions and the new social movements. Academics, students and other intellectuals also form the target audience for the conference.


 * Call for papers**

To allow for a structured and informative reflection on COSATU, we are calling for activists and academics to submit papers to be presented at the conference on 20 – 22 October 2005. These papers will also be published as part of the conference proceedings. Papers will be grouped according to the following themes: -


 * 1. COSATU and Economic Policy Debates**

Papers under this theme will reflect on the evolution of COSATU’s economic policy, its responses to various shifts in the economic policies of the state and capital, in particular the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR). The debates in this session will cover COSATU economic policy in both the pre and post apartheid period.


 * 2. Cosatu and Labour Law Reform**

Papers under this theme will assess and trace the evolution of COSATU’s position on labour law and labour market reform against the background of the demands of the labour movements since its emergence in 1973. We look at the evolution of COSATU’s policies against the background of the state and capital’s policies of labour market liberalization.An important backdrop to COSATU’s approach to labour law reform in the post-apartheid period is the changing nature of work. This session will also provide space for reflection on how COSATU has responded to the changing nature of work, and how this has informed its approach to labour law reform.


 * 3. Cosatu and the Organisational Questions**

The theme will look at a number of organisational questions, and locate these within a broad assessment of Cosatu’s political evolution. Some of the key issues in this session will be the changing composition of COSATU’s membership, changes in COSATU’s organizational structures over the years against the background of changing conditions in the workplace. We also look at organizing strategies, and at how COSATU has responded to the processes of casualisation and so on.


 * 4. COSATU, Politics and Social Mobilisation**

An important element in the development of the federation over the years has been its role in the broader political struggle. First, there are the debates about its role in the struggle against apartheid and capitalism. Secondly, there is the debate about its political role in the post-apartheid period. This session will examine the various debates around trade unions and politics, including the alliance, the role of the labour MPs, and COSATU’s relationship to the state in the post-apartheid period.

Papers under the theme will look at the evolution of Cosatu’s policies on the position of women within the federation, as well as in society. Another area will be looking at initiatives to organise women – including campaigns and strategies at both the federation level, as well as at affiliate level.
 * 5. Cosatu and organising women**

International solidarity was one of the main dimensions of the anti-apartheid struggle, and COSATU was involved in important ways in mobilizing international allies against the apartheid regime. This session will look at COSATU’s international policy, and will also look at COSATU’s international role in the post-apartheid period.
 * 6. Cosatu and International Solidarity**

Papers under this theme will reflect on education and culture within COSATU since 1985. Other aspects of the theme include a reflection on the intellectual life within the federation.
 * 7. Cosatu, Worker Education and Culture**


 * Format of the papers**


 * Papers should be written in a single space format and be not more than 6000 words.
 * Authors should also provide a bibliography at the end their papers so that activists can be able to have access to other sources.
 * Footnotes can be used for referencing and clarification of certain points in the paper.
 * Papers must written in simple English.
 * The editor has a right to ask the writers to rework the papers. Not all papers will be published in the post-conference book, although all the papers will be published on the Khanya website. Khanya will negotiate with the authors about the use of their papers in various forms.
 * The schedule and process for the production of the papers is as follows:

i. Declarations of interest’ to submit a paper must reach Khanya by no later than 10 June 2005. The declaration of interest must include the title of the paper, and a short summary of the main argument – not more than 400 words. ii. The Convening Committee of the Conference will respond to each declaration of interest by not later than 25 June 2005. iii. The first draft of the paper should reach the Convening Committee not later than 29 July 2005. iv. A final draft should be ready for printing by August 27 2005.


 * The declaration of interest (in electronic form) should be sent to Mondli Hlatshwayo at Mondli.hlatshwayo@khanyacollege.org.za.


 * Contact details**


 * For more information on the conference, please contact Mondli Hlatshwayo**

jPhone: 27 11 832 2447 Fax: 27 832 2874 Cell Number: 084 377 3003 Website: www.khanyacollege.org.za**
 * Email: Mondli.hlatshwayo@khanyacollege.org.za.