What are the big issues for South Africa in a post-apartheid era?
In the past we used to fight the same struggle as a liberation movement – the ANC and the unions. The transformation is a real challenge. Now issues like job creation and privatization challenge the strength of the alliance. Now there are differences, especially over economic policies. What is important for us is the strengthening of social services, maintaining the parastatals, and we are against the privatization of basic resources such as health and water.
What are the big gains achieved since the end of apartheid?
Improving the basic conditions of employment for workers and unions. The Government is mainly supportive of laws we put forward to redress the inequities of the past. In the workplace there is a systematic way of dealing with the inequities of apartheid. We want that changes not only benefit the middle class and those that are educated but all parts of society including women, disabled and others. We want skills development. And no discrimination on the basis of HIV-AIDS.
How would you score the ANC in government?
Our government has been in the forefront of implementing international instruments. The legislation that has been put in place with our approval has been progressive. We appreciate that our government is committed to redressing the inequities. They are not just paying lip service. There has been action over gender equity. On the other side has been the manifestation of privatization and the casualisation by subcontracting and tendering. The division in the public sector into core and non-core functions. The core workforce has been reduced.
Has the position of women improved?
Policies and their implementation in employment equity and skills development has a direct effect for women. There are also constitutional structures that have been created dealing with gender issues -–commissions and offices for the status of women in all the provinces that look at the commitment to women by various public bodies.
Does the activism, energy and enthusiasm of the liberation movement survive in politics today?
We have maintained a high level of political activism. It shows when we take up issues like privatisation and we get big support at marches. It is an issue that affects people directly. We can still mobilise people around these issues.
Have union numbers grown?
We do have a problem of membership drop due to restructuring. There are now less permanent workers and an increase in informal workers. To redress this we are looking at organisational review so our strategies are in line with the new challenges - especially to counter the casualisation of jobs.
How big an issue is HIV-AIDS in South African workplaces?
A very big issue. It affects the workplace in a big way. It’s our members who are affected. For a union it presents a big challenge having to protect our members from discrimination ad unfair dismissals. We agree with the government about protection for workers from discrimination. We disagree on the treatment of HIV-AIDS. We differ on priorities. The epidemic is so big. More than 80 per cent of families have been touched by HIV. So it’s not a problem of education, people are experiencing it and people are more tolerant. There is a high prevalence in the workplace.
What experiences brought you to trade unionism?
From the time I was a student in high school I was interested in politics. My father was a policeman, he was seen as an enemy. I was able to break through that constraint. Me and my sisters got into student structures at university. When I finished my degree in education I got involved in trade union struggles. I had this strong feeling of challenging the status quo. Our struggle started with black consciousness and then allied with the struggles of the poor and working class. You want to bring about change and contribute to the transformation.
Has this conference been useful?
In so many ways. The sharing of experiences brings a new approach and strategy in how you handle issues. For example – how you organise the informal sector – do we want to organise them into existing unions or separately. The conference was an eye opener.