* * * *
* * *Communication Workers Union (CWU) 4th National Congress Declaration* *31st January – 2nd February 2011* *The ANC 99 Year Celebrations*** Communication Workers Union 4th National Congress is taking place at a time when all of us in the Broad Democratic Movement of the left are immersed in the 99th year celebrations for the ANC which were launched during the January 8th annual statement address by the President of the African National Congress Cde Jacob Zuma. The Communication Workers Union 4th National Congress theme “*Building CWU to Advance Job Creation, Decent Work & Socialism*”* *in many respects falls closely in line with one of the priority areas that were highlighted in the January 8th address by the ANC President. *The New Growth Path *** The 4th National Congress is also taking place soon after the unveiling of the New Growth Path by the Government. The Macro Economic debates leading to the unveiling of the Growth Path can be best described as having positioned Cosatu and the South African Communist Party on one side of the debate while the ANC led government is on the other side. The New Growth Path as unveiled by Government presents all of us with an opportunity to engage in discussions about the type of Economic Policy that will ultimately address matters of economic development, the *creation of decent jobs* and the *alleviation of poverty*. This New Growth Path as unveiled is an indication that our government is now open for real discussions about a real Economic Policy. The real Economic Policy has to amongst others recognise that South Africa is a developmental state, that South Africa is a country that has high levels of unemployment and an increasing wage gap between the highest and the lowest paid, that South Africa is a country that has a challenge of housing backlog. The control of the economy is still in the hands of the few. South Africa is a country that has a persistent challenge of meeting basic needs. The working class and the poor are at the receiving end of the current macroeconomic policy of the government. The current Macro Economic Government has resulted in a jobless growth. It must also be noted that the New Growth Path is not different from the old Macro Economic Policy (Gear). The National Congress declares that CWU will participate in Cosatu, the Alliance partners and other progressive organisations in the development of a new macro economic engagement document. The National Congress declares that CWU must work to develop an engagement document that places the ICT Sector at the centre of a South African economic development. The new Macro Economic policy that CWU will work for must be biased towards the working class and the poor which reduces unemployment, that closes the gap between income levels and which prioritises rural urban development divide. *Local Government Elections*** The CWU 4th National Congress is taking place on the eve of the much anticipated local government elections. The said Local Government Elections will kick start by the launching of voters registration on the weekend of the 5th – 6th February 2011. The 4th National Congress declares that CWU will work for the overwhelming ANC local government elections victory. The congress calls upon all CWU members and their families to go and register for voting in order to achieve the overwhelming victory for the African National Congress. *Organisational *** The 4th National Congress has noted all of the challenges that have resulted in CWU being stagnant in some aspects of its work. The 4th National Congress declares that in order for CWU to remain relevant in the ICT sector all of the identified challenges have to be attended to. The recruitment of new members will be prioritised. In order to grow the Union new growth opportunities have been identified and the existing unions in various companies where we organise present us with the expected membership growth opportunities - *Organise or starve*. The option of getting into super unions and a merger will be explored and implemented if after everything to grow the union has been done the desired results are not being achieved. *Development of a New Cadre*** Congress has noted that in the past three years not much was done in terms of developing a Cadre with the required political clarity in the organisation. Political Education as a vehicle to achieving the goal of Cadreship and political clarity will be implemented. SACP schools, Cosatu and other means including inviting the ANC, SACP and Cosatu to all our meetings will go a long way in assisting in this regard. *MEDIA* *Print and Broadcasting*** The 4th National Congress has noted the debate that has arisen as a result of the ANC’s announcement to investigate the possibility of developing and putting in place a print media policy as an alternative to the self regulatory media ombudsman. The 4th National Congress also noted the arguments being advanced by media houses and print media journalists in opposition to the development of the said regulatory policy framework. The 4th National Congress declares that CWU will work with progressive forces and Cosatu with a view to develop policy proposals that do not only focus on punitive measures but rather policy proposals that seek to transform the print media houses, policy proposals that compel these media houses to contribute to the country’s transformation agenda. *SABC* The National Congress has also noted the events that have unfolded over a period of time in the SABC. CWU will work with Cosatu and other progressive organisations and structures to foster a corrupt free and unbiased Public Broadcaster. *Issued by CWU* *Gallant Roberts, General Secretary – 0826929777* *Thabo Mogalane, Deputy General Secretary – 0827105666* *OR* *Matankana Mothapo, National Spokesperson – 0729088565/0827590900* * * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
