The Congress of South African Trade Unions is not in an organisational crisis but will have to renew itself, says the National Labour and Economic Development Institute (Naledi).
Naledi’s made the observation in its State of Cosatu report released this week, ahead of Cosatu’s national conference next week.
The 93-page report is expected to contribute towards congress debates.
The Naledi study examined Cosatu’s organisational renewal progress, its political influence, and its ability to represent workers.
”Cosatu is not in an organisational crisis, it remains fairly stable and coherent and able to articulate the interests of its members,” said the Naledi report.
”It has recovered from membership losses, and while some unions have continued to lose members, others have grown significantly and have developed clear and effective recruitment strategies.
The report said the trade union needed to renew itself in a way that was ”participative and vibrant, unleashing the … initiative of members and shop stewards rather than being driven from above”.
Risks to Cosatu’s strength included weaknesses in organising non-permanent employees, financial strain, and inadequate representation of women.
Naledi says a strong, well-organised and democratic union movement was essential in assisting transformation of South Africa.
South Africa has about 6,6-million ”core-zone” workers — those with stable formal sector jobs with salaries, benefits and union rights.
There are about 3,1-million casual and contract workers, and about 2,2-million informal-sector workers.
Naledi says if Cosatu wanted to organise outside the core zone, it would need to commit organisers and resources.
Cosatu’s overall membership grew by 4% since 2003, reversing most recent membership losses. It now has about 1,8-million members, about a third of them women.
Cosatu was still able to mobilise workers around key issues, bringing ”massive” numbers onto the streets, says the report.
Naledi noted there was ”intense debate and disagreement” in Cosatu over whether it had any impact on economic policies.
Unions had won some victories in this but business had been able to reorganise and negotiate settlements in its favour.
Politically, Cosatu remains ”a significant and powerful force” and its strategy of combining collective bargaining with political struggle made it unique.
The federation, however, was in a contradictory position, challenging the government’s neo-liberal moves and support for capital, but aligning itself with the African National Congress.
Key issues, such as joblessness, HIV/Aids and poverty, where the government was failing, remain unresolved, concluded Naledi.
Cosatu is scheduled to comment on the report on Thursday. – Sapa