Update on COSATU WE ARE publishing two articles dealing with aspects of trade-union organization in South Africa. They first appeared in a pamphlet devoted to the trade-union movement, published by the South African Students Press Union. This organization brings together Black journalism students, involved in the democratic movement. The pamphlet, SASPU Focus May Day Special reproduced the positions and the objectives of the trade-union leadership of the Congress of South
SOUTH AFRICA December figure. COSATU's target of a million workers by the end of 1986 seems well within reach.
All these workers will be organized into industrially based unions.
Another merger well under way is in the paper, wood and printing industry. Sector meetings between the Paper, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (PWAWU), GAWU and SAAWU began long before COSATU's launch, and PWAWU general secretary Jeremy Baskin described the spirit of the talks as "very positive"
These unions were due to meet at the end of April to set deadlines and a programme for the forthcoming merger.
One important development is a new municipal, local government and public administration union, where three sector meetings have been held since Octoher since October.
Unions involved are the Cape Town Municipal Workers' Union (CTMWA), Municipal Workers' Unions of SA (MWUSA), Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), and SAAWU.
TGWU is due to merge with the General Workers' Union [GWU] at the end of May and the new union will work out how the different sectors are best organized.
The resolution allows for ongoing evaluation of the viability of the different industrial sectors.
Organizers and trade-union officials know that workers have strong loyalties to their unions.
How will the change to industrial unions affect members, especially of the general unions? Masondo believes that because of the democratic nature of all the unions affiliated to COSATU this is not likely to be a problem.
"GAWU has been and continues to be a democratic union. This means that all the workers have been consulted and informed about the new development" , he said.