Centralised bargaining now!

Keynote addresses were delivered by the Acting General Secretary, Cde Muzi Buthelezi, Cde Jay Naidoo COSATU General Secretary and CWIU President, Cde Don Gumede. Cde Gumede outlined the purposes of the conference “to assess progress and problems, to plan our path in order to provide a clear programme towards centralised bargaining as a result of proper analysis”, He urged delegates “to push employers into joint employers forums to negotiate on proper wages, job creation and an end to retrenchments”. Cde Jay Naidoo addressed the conference on the burning issues of the day. He spoke about VAT, the National Economic Negotiating Forum, trade union unity and CODESA. Cde Naidoo stressed that future economic and political policies must be formulated on the basis of daily and immediate issues facing the working people. Acting General Secretary, Cde Muzi Buthelezi outlined the progress made in the struggle for centralised bargaining. “We have to note” he said, “that the chemical bosses are very tough on this question. They do not want to negotiate, meet or do anything as an industry. They want to keep all activities at a plant or company level”. The remainder of the conference was given the task of redefining the sectors within the chemical industry, developing core demands and outlining a programme of action. Delegates broke into their different sectors to discuss these issues before returning to plenary to thrash out the major steps to be taken by the union in the coming months