The central committee of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Thursday resolved that the federation and its affiliates should embark on a systematic organisational review process.
This follows Cosatu’s three day central committee meeting to assess progress in implementation of organisational review resolutions adopted by the first central committee last year. This committee is the second highest structure after the union’s congress.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said that for three days, more than two hundred union delegates from across the country spent hours in rigorous debates seeking to deepen the federation’s organisational gains and confronting its weaknesses.
This was part of an ongoing discussion launched through the appointment of the September Commission in a run-up to the 1997 National Congress, which culminated in 2000 national congress to position Cosatu to meet challenges of the 21st century.
The Central Committee was organised to prepare a report to the 8th National Congress scheduled for September.
“Only a movement with a clear vision and that continues to scan the environment, look at possible scenarios and do an organisational review can adjust to new realities to guarantee its future,” Vavi said.
The objectives and outcomes of the Central Committee included developing a common understanding on the need for and a programme of organisational renewal.
The committee also concluded that there was a need to respond to pressing organisational challenges facing some of its affiliates and ensure that they all improve on financial management, membership systems, services to members, recruitment, gender work, workplace strategies and union education.
“It is our firm belief that the Central Committee has met these challenges, by adopting clear resolutions on all of the above objectives. Overall, the Central Committee has reaffirmed the need for a systematic organisational review process at affiliated and Cosatu level,” he said.
Vavi added that the Congress would take a final position on the organisational questions based on the report from the organisational review commission.
According to the September Commission the findings of the review should be used to gauge strengths and weaknesses and on that basis develop a plan for organisational renewal.
The September Commission dealt at length with the need for organisational change in the light of the new reality in which unions operate.
The Commission made a strong case for Cosatu and affiliates to adopt a systematic and long term programme for organisational renewal focusing on building effective, democratic and innovative organisation.
Given the sharp fall in membership, the medium to long-term future of the union lies with a further merger or mergers with other affiliates, and in a strong recruitment campaign in the relatively new and hard to organise sectors of cleaning and security. The disputes between itself and other unions must be resolved soon, the September Commission recommended.
Resolutions adopted by the Central Committee centre around organisational renewal programme, state and future of the federation, support for affiliates that urgently need assistance and recruitment and service to members.
The Central Committee also reiterated the importance of the forthcoming Growth and Development Summit as a historic moment to build national consensus on measures required to address joblessness, poverty and inequality.
“Although we are disappointed with the postponement of the summit, we should use this reprieve to work assiduously for the success of the summit. We call on the alliance and the mass democratic movement to use the opportunity to prepare themselves for real and innovative ideas to challenge the number one challenge of South Africa- unemployment,” Vavi added. – I-Net Bridge