Black unionists say workers must lead apartheid fight

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Congress votes contra aid Celebrate 7th Anniversary of the SOCIALIST ACTION JULY 1986 13 We reprint below major excerpts from an interview with members of the executive committee of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The interview first appeared in SASPU FOCUS, Vol. S No. 1.

Question: COSATU and many other organizations say they will fight to build a democratic South Africa, free of oppression and economic exploitation. What do you mean by that?

Answer: COSATU knows all about the daily problems of workers—their expe -rience of hunger, starvation, of no political rights, of Bantu education-which was made to keep workers in wage slavery.

We want our new society to be the complete opposite of that. It must be a non-racial and united nation. It must be a democracy where all people have political rights. And freedom from economic oppression must go with these political rights.

So change does not mean only a new government with a different color skin. It must be a change to a real democracy that benefits the people that produce the wealth of the country-the working class.

Workers must lead the struggle for freedom. And after liberation they must be the leaders in the making of a new society.

Question: That means we must build democracy at grass-roots level?

Answer: We strongly support demo -cratic ways of working in our organization. Worker leaders must get mandates and direction from members. Workers must control their trade unions. We believe these methods of worker control must be also be used when workers take part in township struggles.

There must also be democracy in the running of factories. Today, the bosses alone make decisions about how to run the factories and how to share the profits.

COSATU says this is undemocratic. Workers must have control over the way production is planned and over the profits that workers make. That is the way we see the building of democracy-in our organizations and in the whole of our society.

Question: COSATU (continued from page 1: “S. African unionists resist attacks; demands for U.S. sanctions mount”) sented the opening of a "new Vietnam War" in Central America.

Speaking shortly after the House vote, Ortega also said that the Sandinista gov -ernment would not tolerate internal oppo -sitionists who act as "spokesmen for U.S. imperialism."

"Should we continue to tolerate those who, in the name of political pluralism or freedom of the press, are trying to create an internal front in favor of the terrorist policies of the U.S. government?" he asked a crowd of Sandinista youth in Managua. "No!" was the resounding answer.

Ortega said the approval of contra aid would compel the Nicaraguan government to revise some of its domestic and international policies "to confront the new threats that exist."

Soon after Ortega's declaration, the pro-capitalist daily, La Prensa, was closed for an "indefinite period." La Prensa has been the main mouthpiece of the contras and the U.S. government within Nicaragua.

The Sandinista government said the paper could not be published because it continued to campaign for negotiations between the Sandinistas and the contras and was asking the United States to intervene in Nicaragua.

The entire U.S. rationale for contra aid has been to force the Sandinistas to the bargaining table with the contras. A major argument in Reagan's appeal for the $100 million in aid was that the Sandinistas had refused to seek "internal reconciliation as offered under the Contadora regional peace "wider working class." What is this?

Answer: We know we are not the only force in the struggle. People are fighting over many different issues. We will look closely at the at the struggles. of other organizations. If we agree with them, then we will fight in a disciplined alliance.

But we want a clear idea who our closest friends and allies are. These are the people who have the same feelings and interests as the workers. The unemployed are part of the working class. Poor people in the rural areas, the farmworkers, and the militant youth are also part of the working class—not only people who work in the factories.

But other classes and groups, outside the working class, are fighting for freedom. We plan." By this, Reagan means some form of power-sharing with the contras that would eventually remove the Sandinistas from power.

The Sandinistas have steadfastly resisted these U.S. imperialist pressures. They have vowed never to talk to the contras and have said that only traitors support such talks.

7th anniversary of revolution On July 19, hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan workers and peasants will gather in Managua to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the overthrow of the Somoza dictatorship. This celebration comes at a time when the danger of U.S. military intervention is greater than ever.

In this country, numerous marches will be held on July 19 to commemorate the triumph over Somoza and to demand an end to U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. This is an important occasion to show that the American people reject the bipartisan war against Nicaragua.

The successful antiwar demonstration on April 19, 1986, in San Francisco and the nationwide demonstrations in April 1985 show that it is possible to build an independent movement in the streets capable of mobilizing existing mass anti-intervention sentiment.

Unfortunately, at a time when Nicaragua faces increased military attacks, there has been a downturn in public protest activity against U.S. intervention. Most coalition groups have begun to focus their efforts on will join their fights. They are our friends. Like the End Conscription Campaign, which is an important part of the struggle. It is made up mostly of whites.

Question: Can you tell us about some of the joint struggles workers are fighting outside the factory floor?

Answer: We have seen students in the townships and workers in the factories fighting together before—-like in the Simba chips boycott when students and workers fought together for workers' rights. Then, in November 1984 [during a three-day general strike in the Transvaal region], workers stayed away from work to support the demands of the students.

Workers and other organizations are making the same demands-for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political the November 1986 elections in the hopes of electing "pro-peace" Democratic candi -dates.

These groups continue to ignore the "pro-war" record of the Democratic Party and the warnings of leading Sandinista Commander Omar Cabezas, who stated that the only difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is that "some want to kill us one way, [while] the others want to kill us another way."

Reliance on Democratic Party Nicaraguan organizations, and the lifting of the state of emergency• We have seen the joint action in the Vaal around rents...In the Eastern Cape, trade unions and community organizations have worked together on the consumer boycott. In the struggle for a better education, unions and organizations are beginning to work together at the national level through the National Education Crisis Committee structures.

Question: What has been the response of workers and other groups to COSATU'S formation!

Answer: The launch of COSATU [in November 1985] made organizations feel stronger at a time they were being attacked in the middle of the State of Emergency. Our decision to join political struggles outside the factories encouraged people to Thousands of workers came to our offices when they heard about the decision to set up a farmworkers union. The unemployed also want to be organized. We were powerfully strong when we started-and now, after four months, we are over 650,000 strong. But we have a problem—we don't have the people and the resources to handle all the new members.

Question: What links would COSATU like to have with the world trade-union federations?

Answer: We would not join any of the world trade unions or confederations. They are complicated organizations and we believe they are fighting a war of different ideologies and political ideas.

We don't feel we have enough experience or understanding of that fight.

And in South Africa we don't have the freedom to choose openly. If we join a confederation that the government does not like, then the government could crack down on us.

But we won't stand back and not join up with workers in other parts of the world. This is an important way to build solidarity. For us, solidarity means more than help with money. Solidarity means workers in different parts of the world taking part in each others' struggles.

This is beginning to happen-like CCAWUSA [Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers Union], who supported the 3M strike in America; during the Coca Cola campaign in our country; and the solidarity action of the Volkswagen workers in West Germany with VW workers in Uitenhage.

politicians, or fall campaigns to elect "antiReagan Democrats" will do nothing to halt the increasing use of U.S. state terrorism against Nicaragua.

Anti-intervention organizations should respond by organizing mass rallies and demonstrations this fall opposing aid to the contras and protesting all forms of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua. This is the best way to defend the Nicaraguan revo -lution.-The Editors Sato July 19, san Francisco

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strengthening of this work-in-progress.

While their political analysis is basically accurate, I think it would benefit the audience to be shown more clearly the betrayals of the Spanish people by social democracy and by Stalinism. These lessons The mime and choreography of "Spain/36" are masterful. So too is the use of fantastically wonderful masks worn by all the "bad guys." "The Fascist Dance" performed by the entire ensemble is almost as frightening as seeing newsreels of Hitler's troops goose-stepping down the On the other hand, the dance entitled "Madrid" is an inspired and inspiring work which brought tears to my eyes. This dance salutes the bravery of Spain's workers and peasants as well as the International Brigade volunteers who fought and fell for Spain's The music of "Spain/36" is also inspiring, although the lyrics at times were a bit uneven. But knowing the Mime Troupe, I am sure this will be improved as the play progresses. I look forward to their putting together an album of the same caliber as the one produced by their previous play, the Obie Award-winning As always, the Mime Troupe seeks to enlighten and educate. They give an overview of the Spanish Civil War which draws the audience into understanding history and to seeing parallels in the world In a recent interview, Dan Chumley, director/troupe member, said, "It is important because of what our country is opening, one comment says it all: "The anarchists and the conservative approach of doing in Central America. The fascist people may have spirit but they'll need it; the social democrats. Durruti and Morin powers of Italy and Germany were rising up The San Francisco Mime Troupe's wait till they see the Church they get." want to fight on for revolution, while on their hind legs, moving all over newest production, "Spain/36," premiered The three main figures on the other side, Europeand Spain was the testing ground. last month at the Los Angeles Theatre "the people's side," are also historical Negrin's vacillation is summarized in his Many Americans don't understand what Center. Those who are familiar with the figures: Buenaventura Durruti, an anarchist lines, "The other side [the fascists,] is only happened there, how a small country can be Mime Troupe's work over the years will be leader; Emilienne Morin, an anarchist marginally more competent than we are. pleased to see that they are better than ever militant and Durruti's companion; and Juan But they are not plagued by indecision." Spain/36 continues through July 13 at as they take on a formidable task-the Negrin Lopez, socialist prime minister of This misleadership is seen in good part as the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Telephone telling of the Spanish Civil War in music, Spain's last Republican government. responsible for the defeat of the revolution (213) 627-5599 for tickets and schedule.

Almost from the beginning, we The play will open in San Francisco in It is no accident that this political theater conflict between the radicalism of On this point, I would like to see some group has chosen this particular time to produce this topic. They too are commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War and they warn us all Dictators, torturers out crowd was just there for the music. But, that "those who do not remember history boy, did they get more! This viewer came away with the sense of participating in an The play spans the period in Spain from antiwar and anti-apartheid rally with some the coming to power of the Popular Front very good performers lending their talents in the elections of 1936 through its ultimate bloody defeat in 1939. We see on In the last two years, we have witnessed the stage the peasants, workers, and A particularly sobering mood prevailed a number of political music events, students united against Franco, Hitler, and over the crowd when Peter Gabriel sang including "Live Aid" —a concert to help end Amnesty International recently ended a "Biko." The song was dedicated to the spirit famine in Ethiopia-and the release of the We also see the despicable role of the six-city tour designed to get the word out of Stephen Biko, a founder of the Black "Sun City" album by artists united against "neutrals": Leon Blum, socialist prime about their 25 years of activity. The tour Consciousness Movement in South Africa minister of France; Winston Churchill, was billed, "Amnesty International-A who was brutally murdered in his prison Contrary to what the media would have future prime minister of Britain; and cell. Part of the lyrics are as follows: us believe, there is a growing sentiment for Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the The tour ended on June 15 in an 11-hour social justice out there. Unfortunately, rock concert before a standing-room crowd because the organized movement is in a letThe true role of the "neutrals" is best of 100,000 people at Giants Stadium in down, this sentiment has not manifested shown in the "Non-Intervention Dance," a East Rutherford, N.J. I tuned into MTV to well-choreographed satirical minuet. Hitler watch the live telecast of the event. During U2's performance of "Sunday The concerts reflect an emerging social and Mussolini urge Blum and Initially, my main interest was in the Bloody Sunday," about the Belfast uprising consciousness. This consciousness is a Churchill—as well as Joseph Stalin, caliber of musicians who were perform - of 1969, the leader of the new-wave Irish cause for optimism; it discredits the myth secretary general of the Communist Party ing-such as the likes of Jackson Brown, group, cried, "Are you tired of reading lies that people are only out for themselves. of the Soviet Union-to join them. Peter Gabriel, Ruben Blades, Sting, and in the newspapers? Are you tired of reading There's an expression that seems approInitially reluctant, the latter three do join U2. One of the performers was Fela, a lies about Nicaragua, Belfast, Beirut? Then priate to insert here: Artists tend to sense a in the dance, making it clear by their mime musician released from the prisons of his say no more!" The crowd shouted back, change in the wind before others. But it's that, while they are hesitant to combine country due to the intervention of Amnesty people putting the poetry into action that with the forces of reaction, they would Now, some cynics might charge that the rather dance with them than be ostracized I could see this was no ordinary concert. wallflowers in the view of the world Throughout its course, continual reference was made to the current struggle in South Stalin's representative in Spain, a Pravda Africa. The state of emergency cast over the correspondent, attempts to justify the recent 10th-anniversary commemoration of Negrin backs off. dance, and mime. see and the loss of the Civil War.

the are condemned to repeat it."

By MILLIE GONZALEZ their allies.

Conspiracy of Hope."" "You can blow out a candle, United States. But you can't blow out a fire.

Once the flames begin to catch, The winds will blow it higher." "No more! No more! No more!"

International.

powers.

streets of Paris. freedom 50 years ago.

Photo by: Chris Gulker early 1987. to the cause. brings change. are as timely today as then.

Masterful and inspired "Factwino: the Opera." affected by foreign intervention." apartheid. What does it mean?

itself in mass demonstrations.

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