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THE labour movement has an essential part to play in
defending democracy and advancing the fight for human rights, says Terry Bell
in his latest Labour wrap. Yet where were the trade unions during this latest
human rights week? he asks.
He points out that both Cosatu and the Federation of
Labour (Fedusa) issued statements highlighting the fact that human rights
remain “a bridge too far” for most South Africans. But the day- and the week - was left to the politicians and they, he maintains, all tend to have their
own agendas.
He also finds it significant that while the massacre
at Sharpeville and the shootings in Langa were correctly highlighted,
there was no mention of Marikana. Yet working people were also gunned
down there while protesting for their rights.
But Bell says it is perhaps not surprising that
there has been so little action from the trade unions over the past week.
Political infighting and fragmentation in large sections of the labour movement
are a probable cause.
One result of this has been that unions
across the board have fallen far shy of adequately monitoring existing labour
rights, let alone seeking their enforcement. A consequence of this is that
little more than 20% of workers in formal employment are now unionised.
Twenty years ago, in the wake of the euphoria
following the 1994 transition, union membership peaked at more than 45% of the
workforce. The precise figures may be debated but the decline, Bell maintains,
is real - and precipitous.
He points to evidence this week from truck drivers
who approached him following his column about the dangers to road users of
drivers having to be behind the wheel for 17 hours and more. They confirmed
that they often suffered from “driver fatigue”.
But they were also cynical about the labour movement, having been let down by trade union officials they had approached for help. This, Bell says, amounts to “union fatigue”.
He maintains that, for the sake of democracy, this decline must be arrested. This can be done by paying more than lip service to organising the currently unorganised and providing a proper service to unionists everywhere.
* Add your voice or just drop Terry a labour question. Follow Terry on twitter @telbelsa.
