9th+Congress,+Organisational,+3+of+5,+Solidarity+amongst+affiliates

Draft Adopted Resolutions of the 9th COSATU National Congress

 * (For advance study purposes only. Wait for the printed edition, or refer to the official [|COSATU web site]for the authoritative version)**

Organisational Resolutions, 3 of 5
=2.3 Solidarity amongst COSATU affiliates=


 * Noting:**

1. Workers continue to wage heroic struggles in defence of their living standards, mainly in the form of strikes.

2. Our strikes are often isolated since there is very little active solidarity from workers in other sectors of the economy. Solidarity in COSATU is too often defined in general terms instead of ensuring practical internal solidarity.

3. Different approaches by individual COSATU affiliates towards collective bargaining gives employers leeway to defeat or frustrate them, weakens solidarity from other affiliates, and makes it difficult to measure affiliates successes and failures.

4. the current ongoing strikes in different sector led by COSATU unions.5. Agression by bosses including the employment of companies with the aim of undermining the workers strikes.


 * Believing that:**

> a. the current strikes requires urgent coordination and solidarity. > b. The importance of rebuilding the foundation of worker solidarity. > c. The need political intervention.


 * Resolve:**

1. COSATU congress should resolve on common collective bargaining guidelines and a single forum for COSATU affiliates. COSATU to develop common collective bargaining guidelines.

2. Affiliates must provide regular reports on strikes and other collective disputes to the Federation through joint mandating committees.

3. To mandate the CEC to:

> a. Ensure that a comprehensive capacity building programme on strike organisation is developed for all organisers and negotiators. > b. Facilitate regular sharing of information on strike tactics amongst affiliates. > c. Redefine the role of the Organising Department to ensure that the Department gives strikes the necessary focus and attention. > d. Establish a campaigns forum or structure that will constantly monitor and develop strikes and solidarity organisation, as well as related solidarity action across affiliates instead of each affiliate or even the company on strike left on its own and merely receive moral message of support without concrete action. > e. Consider establishing Solidarity funds both at affiliates and Federation level. The CEC should develop a policy on the utilisation of the Fund. POPCRU strike fund should also help workers during strikes (lost wages)

4. COSATU and its affiliate must urgently establish a strike fund. Modalities of a Strike Fund Levy will be determined by the first CEC after the Congress.

5. COSATU to assist its affiliates in cases of need for sustenance of their industrial actions over a long period of time.

6. Review labour law provision on secondary/solidarity strike.

7. COSATU should immediately organise a well coordinated programme of amss pickets in support of the current strikes.

8. COSATU should work torwads a day of action in solidarity with the strikes.

9. COSATU should target companies that undermine strikes including calling on government not to grant tenders to such companies.

440 words