EVENT REPORT 31 / 05 / 2019

A FEMINIST AGENDA IS NEEDED IN THE LABOUR MOVEMENT AND THE LEFT

SIKHO LUTHANGO

On the 25th of May 2019, the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung hosted a seminar titled, “Gender Inequality in Trade Unions”. The event was held in Cape Town at the Tshisimani Activist Centre. The event took place in a context where, as argued by Horn (1991), the labour movement and the left have positioned themselves as vanguards of the working class and its struggles. However, it is doubtful to what extent the labour movement can advocate and protect the interests of further marginalized groups such as Womxn and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, , Queer or Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) people.

The labour movement is characterized by a culture of Nomvume Ralarala, 1st Deputy President of SAFTU, Nazeema and toxic masculinity which includes both the Samuels, Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party South Africa upper and lower echelons of its organizational structures. The (SRWP) Western Cape Provincial Legislature member, Simone emphasis on ideology tends to exclude the struggles of women Cupido, Tshisimani youth and Fees Must Fall activist, and and LGBTQI people within trade unions, the workplace and Cornelia Möhring, the Spokesperson for Women’s Politics and society (Seidman, 1993). Consequently, there is risk of creating Vice Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus of the German Left an “imagined community” where the voices of marginalized Party (DIE LINKE). The panel reflected the years of experience groups are silenced in the pursuit of fighting capitalism that each speaker had to share about trade unions, the left and (Seidman, 1993). In this context, the seminar aimed at sharing the political space in general. the experiences of women within the labour movement and the left in an attempt to develop strategies to create an equitable The shared and lived experiences of the speakers revealed that and inclusive space for Womxn and LGBTQI people in a mostly trade unions harbour a culture of patronage that discriminates patriarchal space. against Womxn. Highly skilled women are not considered for major positions. Top leadership positions are mostly reserved The panel was chaired by Ruth Ntlokoste, 2nd Deputy for men and this also includes local shop stewards. In addition, President of NUMSA and consisted of four speakers namely: the societal responsibilities mostly performed by women make

Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung 1 Panelists speaking at the workshop. Photo by Sikho Luthango. it difficult to participate in trade union activities. However, gender structures across all unions and its affiliates. Nazeema Samuels argued that the recent implementation of a The third speaker made it apparent that the culture of child care policy allows women to participate more effectively patriarchy does not only manifest in spaces like trade unions and frequently in trade union structures. that rarely have young people. One can thus argue that patriarchy is not exclusive to spaces led by a more conservative Nomvume Ralarala explains that the historical disadvantages generation. Speaking from the perspective of a “queer experienced by women resulted in men becoming more coloured” Womxn, Simone Cupid shared the Stellenbosch educated and this was especially the case when she first joined Fees Must Fall experience. She argued that adopting the the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). ideology of became more pertinent as the Ralarala’s role and contribution in building SADTU structures struggle intensified to engage different forms of oppression cannot be disputed. However, her experience of harassment through different identities. In the pursuit of an “imagined in withdrawing and being overlooked for key leadership community”, feminists were faced with the challenge of being positions highlights the prevalence of patriarchy and its effects seen as derailing racial struggles. This became more common in the labour movement. Even in recent times where she now as more cases of sexual violence were exposed from within occupies a key position in SAFTU, Ralarala argues that it is the movement. Hence, towards the end, the Fees Must Fall still difficult to raise issues that affect women in the union. movement became Womxn-led as the need to replace non- Additionally, Ralarala argues that there’s still a need to improve progressive forces became more apparent.

Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung 2 Cornelia Möhring provided the audience with an international Mobilizing women and LGBTQI people against anti-feminist experience of Womxn in trade unions and within the left. agendas can be done through various means. On the 1st Using Germany as her point of reference, Möhring argues of August 2018, Womxn protested against South Africa’s that in comparison to South Africa, the German legislative high rate and gender-based violence. This protest environment aimed at protecting Womxn and LGBTQI people cemented the beginning of a broad in a is not as progressive. Möhring argues that inequality still exists democratic South Africa. Möhring also recalls the successful and this is apparent in the distribution of labour within society German 8th of March protest on International Women’s Day where women are still primary care givers to children, the controlled by a coalition of the Left Party, the Greens and Social elderly and the sick. Men are mostly employed in high profit Democrats. Furthermore, the trade union-led strike held in sectors and in contrast women are mostly employed in the Spain on International Women’s Day is another successful service sectors where work is mostly precarious and without example of women organizing against gender inequality and retirement benefits. Möhring further describes the experience discrimination where an unprecedented 5 million women were in the left party as not being free of gender bias. in attendance.

To address gender inequality, the German Parliament has The discussion revealed that the experiences of women and adopted a 50/50 gender quota system. Möhring argues that LGBTQI people are similar across the globe and opportunities without this quota, she would not have made the effort to run for international solidarity exist. South African trade for parliament. The quota encourages women to participate in unions have the potential to drive the creation of local and a traditionally patriarchal space and can be seen as a form of empowerment. As argued by Ralarala, due to historical gender inequalities, it is still necessary for organizations to empower women to create an enabling environment for their meaningful participation in trade unions and in politics. Furthermore, while quota systems enable the participation of women in these spaces, it is still important to ensure that power is distributed fairly mainly by ensuring that Womxn have decision making and implementation powers.

Möhring suggests that is therefore necessary to create spaces within political parties and trade unions for women to engage with each other. As in the case of the German Parliament where women are allowed to veto resolutions that may negatively impact them. This will prevent men from making decisions about women without women. The rise of racist, nationalistic and antifeminist right-wing parties across the globe, including in Germany and recently South Africa, pose a threat to women’s rights and this is why the representation of women has become more of an urgent matter (Petchesky, 1981; Berbuir, Lewandowsky & Siri, 2015). Furthermore, the rise of right-wing parties threatens the rights of LGBTQI people, intersectionality and multi-culturalism (Berbuir et al., 2015). More importantly, the social-welfare state which women are most dependent on is threatened by the rise of right-wing parties. Ensuring that Womxn are well represented in politics Cornelia Möhring (DIE LINKE) with Ruth Ntlokoste (NUMSA). and in trade unions is a necessary endeavour. Photo by Sikho Luthango

Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung 3 international alliances but change must emanate from within their own structures.

The event was successful in creating a space for Womxn to engage and share their personal experiences about trade unions. However, the discussion was still dominated by the few men in the room and in future it may be necessary to create a space that is exclusively for women. The audience also lacked the voices of young Womxn. The success of Fees Must Fall and the inclusion of young Womxn in the 6th Parliament of South Africa shows that young Womxn can no longer be silenced and that they are a vanguard for progressive politics. Trade unions should not ignore the role of young Womxn and this should be reflected in their leadership structures as well. Moving forward, trade unions and the left must embrace the feminist movement to end gender discrimination and gender based violence.

Sikho Luthango is a Programme Manager for Labour Relations and Economy at the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southern African office based in Johannesburg. She holds a Masters of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration with Distinction from the University of Cape Town. Research interests include Mineral Resource Governance, Land Governance and Climate Justice.

References:

Horn, P. 1991. Post-Apartheid South Africa: What about Women’s Emancipation? Transformation, 15(1): 25-39.

Seidman, G.W. 1993. No Freedom without the Women”: Mobilization and Gender in South Africa, 1970-1992. Women in Culture and Society, 18(2): 291-320.

Petchesky, R.P. 1981. Antiabortion, , and the Rise of the New Right. Feminist Studies. 7(2): 206-246.

Berbuir, N., Lewandowsky, M. & Siri, J. 2014. The AfD and its Sympathisers: Finally a Right-Wing Populist Movement in Germany? German Politics, 24(2): 154-178.

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The views and opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily represent those of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.

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