A Time of Struggle

The ANC Youth League announces as follows: “The ANC YL President, Fikile Mbalula will be addressing thousands of SATAWU striking workers during their industrial action” (today), 05 April 2006 (Wednesday) at 11h00 in Library Gardens, Johannesburg. The current status in the SATAWU Security Guards dispute is described by the Mail and Guardian in the linked article below. The employers are trying to split the workers through deals with small sweetheart unions that are not affiliated to COSATU. SACCAWU’s dispute with Shoprite Checkers is at a crucial point as reported in the linked press release from the union. Other class struggles at present include the dispute involving 350 NUMSA members at the Aerodyna Strand Beach factory in Cape Town involving the use of labour brokers in an attempt by the employer at divide-and-rule. In France, nationwide strikes and protests involving both workers and students continue against the “dual labour market” proposals of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. In South Africa, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana identifies the commonality between the French struggles and our own. Which side is he on? Hard to tell, but at least he did oppose the crude union-bashing version advanced by Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moloketi that was rejected by the ANC NGC in July last year. See linked items. These notes are written with a view to stimulating dialogue among political education students in discussion groups that use the electronic Communist University as a resource. So it is a pleasure to have news of a new study circle, based in Dora Tamana Co-operative Centre, 1 Leyds Street, Braamfontein. See the linked schedule, and please check the page from time to time for any updates and alterations to the programme while it settles down. DTCC’s first class will be a look at some of the various economic schools of thought that have existed. Next week they will discuss “Class and State in the Global Political Economy” by William K. Tabb. Interesting choices, comrades. The Young Communist League meets this afternoon at around 17h00 in the SATAWU offices, 13th floor, Old Mutual Building, 29 Kerk Street, between Loveday and Harrison. They will discuss “Bourgeois Democracy and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat” by V. I. Lenin. Next week at the same time and place the YCL will discuss Bill Pomeroy’s essay on the time for armed struggle, which is in fact a very good lesson on the primacy of political struggle over the military, illustrated by the example of the Philippines. See link below. Links: Satawu calls for wage agreement to be undone, M and G (444 words) SACCAWU media release on dispute with Shoprite Checkers (682 words) Hundreds of thousands march in France, Guardian (666 words) SA shares French labour law challenge, Mdladlana, B Report (953 words) DTCC Political Classes, 2006 schedule (Schedule) 1974, Pomeroy, On the Time for Armed Struggle (6800 words)