PRESS STATEMENT ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE FAWU NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING OF 12-14 SEPTEMBER 2013

The Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU) held a successful meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) on the 12-14 September 2013 in Johannesburg and took the following decisions.

1. COSATU Challenges

The NEC was pleased that several affiliated unions of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) have joined a call, initially made by FAWU in April 2013, for a Special National Congress to be convened.

With confirmation that about seven of COSATU affiliates would have delivered such requests for a special congress by this weekend of the 15th September, FAWU will be urging the leadership of COSATU to respect this call in terms of the constitution and for all affiliates to meaningfully engage on how best we get this request implemented.

Further, the NEC reaffirmed its undying affiliation to COSATU as a founder-affiliated-union and to condemn suggestions and innuendos that FAWU is about to split or disaffiliate from the federation. If anything, the NEC encouraged the National Office Bearers (NOBs) of FAWU to continue working for unity of the federation based on progressive principles and for all affiliated unions to remain in the federation.

The NEC reaffirmed its decision with regard to the "unconstitutional" Special CEC and its invalid outcome to ‘suspend' Vavi and is pleased that there is an admission on the part of COSATU leadership that the Federation's constitution may have been flouted.

2. ANC Elections Campaign

The NEC decided to convene a special extended NEC meeting in November 2014 at which the standing decision to campaign for the ANC Victory will be further debated in the light of indications of what could be constituting the ANC Elections Manifesto, especially on the issues of Labour Brokers and National Development Plan (NDP).

Meanwhile, the NEC decided to clarify the country that FAWU will not desert the African National Congress (ANC) although it will sharply raise objections to what we see as unwise or anti-working class policies without fail and how these may dampen the spirit of campaigning.

However, the NEC was adamant that FAWU will not campaign against the ANC, rather will continue critiquing and campaign for a pro-working class NDP, should such be in the election manifesto.

3. Organizational Program

The NEC deliberated and decided on other organizational issues, such as financial turnaround, organizing strategy for farm workers, collective bargaining and strike actions, and the normal NEC businesses.

The NEC, in particular reiterated the decision to aggressively heighten recruitment and organizing of farm workers employed in the vulnerable sectors and this also being in appreciation of the pledged solidarity support from our sister - affiliate SACTWU.

Statement issued by Katishi Masemola, FAWU General Secretary, September 15 2013

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