African Activist Archive

The speech says the Chicago Committee in Solidarity with South Africa (CCISSA) and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists encouraged us; the New York Labor Committee Against Apartheid and the United Mine Workers and UAW in Washington, DC guided us. The speech says it was not to sympathize with South African unions, but to act that led to the formation of the Labor Network; we've marched, picketed, sent letters, been arrested, testified and answered questions. The speech says our unity is far more important than our differences; such as during the fight pass the Dellums Sanctions bill in Congress, the Free Mayekiso Campaign, and the visit of Winnie and Nelson Mandela to the U.S. The speech says we work together to support international labor solidarity and the freeing of South Africa; we work together to oppose union-busting tactics of international corporations; and we support the right of South Africans to choose their own politics. The speech says the liberation movement in south Africa is fueled in large part by black workers; they have a monstrous job ahead to redo the political and economic structures after apartheid fails. The speech says political organizations were unbanned; political leaders were released; some apartheid laws were lifted; the "squeeze" on South Africa worked, sort of; but apartheid is not yet dead! The speech says by 1990, the white regime could no longer suppress its opposition by brute force; international sanctions had begun to hurt; general strikes were devastating; South Africa's economy was in shambles; and a massive new Defiance Campaign was in full swing. The speech says U.S. unions; we can take pride; while we've been battered by anti-union judges, politicians and the NLRB, by corporate greed and government deregulation, we have not ignored the fight for freedom in south Africa. The speech says many, many, over many years, have toiled in the labor movement to get pension funds divested; politicians to move; our leaders went to jailed; we walked picket lines; we boycotted Shell Oil which fuels apartheid's tanks. The speech says we helped to free union leader Moses Mayekiso from charges of treason; we fought for sanctions, at the city, state and county levels; unions have shared information on worker health and safety, and much more. The speech says our work is more important now than ever; South Africa is a nation where workers are employed by companies, we know well: Ford, General Motors, Coca Cola, Shell, Toyota, Citicorp. The speech says corporations operate on a GLOBAL basis, and beat us on a GLOBAL basis; unions and unions members must act globally today. The speech discusses CBTU (Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, self-determination, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), NACTU (National Council of Trade Unions), cheap labor, gold, diamonds, and minerals.

African Activist Archive

[In 1987 the solidarity of 350,000 striking miners in South Africa inspired us to organize what the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid.]

Creator

Place Created

Date

Type of Item

Length/duration

Description

Organization

Coverage Africa

Language

Digital Format

Rights Management

Collection