Organs of People's Power

CWIU IN PHALABORWA Workers and the community CHEMICAL WORKERS from the Phalaborwa local describe the community struggles in their area in the period 1984-86. They draw the link between these struggles and the political policy adopted by their union, CWIU. 1 he process of unionisation in Phala and affiliated to COSATU. In Fe borwa was initiated by the National bruary 1986 the Phalaborwa branch of Union of Minewoikers (NUM) in SACWU also disaffiliated, and joined April 1984, and after gaining ground the COSATU affiliate, CWIU. the workers from Fedmis-Phalaborwa also displayed the interest of joining Organs of the union. The NUM organiser then people's power contacted the office of the South Afri can Chemical Workers Union In 1985, rudimentary organs of (SACWU), as both unions were affil people's power emerged all over Pha iates of the then Council of Unions of laborwa. This was a direct response to South Africa the harassment of (CUSA). students who were The two unions the leading force for then developed a democratically practical working re elected SRCs. Reac lationship and in tionary school some stages they committees were were calling for colluding with the joint general meet police, and gener ings to promote ally meetings of trade union educa workers and stu tion. In October dents were violently 1985 NUM disaffil disrupted. Parents iated from CUSA were also prevented 63 SALB Vol 14 No 2 UNIONS AND POLITICS from discussing the schooling crisis adhering to the black consciousness by the school committees in collabora philosophy. Then in 1983 the UDF tion with the police. was launched, and in 1984 the stu The Fedmis-Phalaborwa workers dent's struggle for democratically as part of the Phalaborwa community elected SRCs was launched, and Pha were effectively participating in those laborwa was no exception. There were structures of people's power. These debates among students and youth channels enabled them to mix with the about the appropriate home between UDF affiliates. One of our shopste- BC organisations and the UDF. wards was serving in the executive The late Comrade Alf Nkadimeng committee of the Namakgale Parents who was working for SAAWU [SA Crisis Committee, a UDF affiliate. Allied Workers Union] was also in Also four shopstewards were respon volved in organising workers who fell sible for the launching of the once outside the scope of NUM. S ACWU active Namakgale Youth Congress, and CCAWUSA. He used to come also a UDF affiliate. with Turfloop students and comrades During a strike in Feb 1985, Fed- from UDF Northern Transvaal down mis workers also organised and ran to Phalaborwa. The students concen the Operation Hunger Feeding trated on the organisation of the Scheme for themselves and the com schools, whereas the UDF comrades munities of Namakgale, Makhushane, were organising the youth and the Maseke, Lulekani and Mashimale. community. That was in 1984, around Upon their returning to work, the June and July. whole project was run by a committee The debates and discussions were comprising two representatives from held in meetings. T-shirts were sold to each of the communities mentioned the people, and political songs and slo above. The emphasis has always been gans were the order of the day to that those in the communities who popularise the UDF. As usual every benefit from the scheme should be where, some were hesitating and destitutes and unemployed people. resisting, but they were a very small This is so even up to the present day. number. The Azanian Students Organisa The arrival tion (AZASO) [now called SANSCO, of the UDF the South African National Students Congress] at Turfloop university, in In order to understand this situ collaboration with the northern Trans ation, you have to understand how the vaal region of UDF, organised UDF came into our area. workshops for students, youth and In 1976 to 1982 Phalaborwa like workers, and ultimately it became evi other areas in the far north was domi dent that Congress politics dominated nated by black consciousness (BC). the whole of Phalaborwa. Namakgale There were no other organisations not Youth Congress was formed, fol- June 1989 64 CWIU IN PHALABORWA lowed by Mashishimale Youth Con We are not observers in the heat of gress and late in 1985 Lulekani Youth the struggle. Our policies have de Congress. Mashishimale is a village veloped out of our struggles. near Namakgale, and Lulekani is a Not only that, but we are proud of township in Gazankulu, 17 km from our union's position and commitment Namakgale. to the broader unity of the working Early in 1986 the Namakgale Par class in this country. At the recent ents Crisis Committee was formed. In COSATU Special Congress we were all these structures our workers and one of the unions which pushed for shopstcwards were either in die top the conference of all the extra-par leadership or active members. NUM liamentary organisations genuinely and CCAWUS A were also participat opposed to apartheid. ing actively in these structures. The unity of the oppressed and ex ploited masses of our country is Union political policy crucial, therefore people or organisa tions invited to any anti-apartheid In COSATU's CWIU we are indaba should be genuinely opposed proud of the political resolution to apartheid. We cannot invite people democratically debated in two con or organisations with no mass support gresses and finally adopted with an or constituency to report back to and overwhelming majority. It was built get mandates from. after hectic debates. Shopstewards The broader unity of the working from all the locals nationally met and class will be the unity of COSATU, debated on this policy, adjourned to NACTU, all the independent unions get fresh mandates from the various and working class political organisa locals, met again and adopted a tions, youth and students. On the other political policy which accommodated hand, the conference of all the extra- everyone. parliamentary organisations genuinely The CWIU policy shows that opposed to apartheid will include the CWIU sees itself as part of the extra- above organisations, as well as profes parliamentary opposition. In South sional groupings such as teachers, Africa you cannot be a trade union lawyers and doctors. that truly represents its members with The worker summit is able to out being involved in political batdes build a very strong fighting weapon for the liberation of the whole people. against the employers and the ruling Trade unions, in alliance with pro class. The recent summit brought gressive mass-based organisations are together different unions from differ en ti Lied to act in the interests of all the ent traditions. It also exposed some oppressed and exploited masses of our leaders who lack respect for consult country. It is imperative to adopt ation on the ground. Future worker policies and resolutions that will en summits can focus on the question of able you to form alliances. one country, one federation. & £5 SALBVol14No2 .

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