“capitalism is a map

“capitalism is a map made of production directed torwards accumulation for its own sake, regardless of social needs” - Karl Marx editor iN CHieF: Zwelinzima Vavi editor: Vusumuzi Bhengu layout aNd desigN: Nthabiseng Makhajane editorial Board : Zwelinzima Vavi, Bheki Ntshalintshali, Patrick Craven, Zakhele Cele, Vusumuzi Bhengu, Nthabiseng Makhajane suBsCriptioN & distriButioN : Nthabiseng Makhajane advertisiNg sales: Nthabiseng Makhajane Tel: +27 (0)11 339 4911 Fax: +27 (0)11 531 5080 Email: nthabiseng@cosatu.org.za 110 Jorissen & Simmonds Street , Braamfontein, 2001 PO Box 1019, Johannesburg 2000 feb/mar 2013 page 2 www.cosatu.org.za Tel: +27 (0)11 339 4911 Fax: +27 (0)11 339 5080/6940 www.cosatu.org.za © Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

ConferenceOverview Reflections of Day Three of the Collective Bargaining The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions has continued with the business of the bargaining, organizing and campaigns conference and the commission inputs were supplement by presentations from Blade Nzimande, General Secretary SACP and Minister for Higher Education, Patrick Belser from ILO Headquarters and Neil Coleman, COSATU’s Strategies co-ordinator. conference The plenary debates dealt with the argument for a National Minimum Wage, Decent Work, and the Social wage and Social Protection – essential pillars of our Lula Moment or radical economic transformation, radically raising low pay as a tool for poverty alleviation AND as a macroeconomic tool for economic growth and job creation – the argument for a National Minimum Wage, and practical route to decent Work for all – establishing measurable standards of decency as a strategy for triggering organising and feb/mar 2013 page 3 www.cosatu.org.za collective bargaining for vulnerable workers. Five Commissions discussed various matters relating to the National Minimum Wage, Decent Work, National Health Insurance, implementing 11th national congress resolution on retirement fund issues, Education, skills and training, Employment guarantees, income security, including the Basic Income Grant and the jobseekers Grant.