Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Bloemfontein

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) was launched in December 1985 after four years of unity talks between unions opposed to apartheid and committed to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. At our launch we represented less than half a million workers organised in 33 unions. We currently have more than two million workers, of whom at least 1, 8 million are paid up members. We have been among the fastest growing trade union movements in the world: today, when most trade unions are facing a decline in membership, we continue to grow. Our main broad strategic objectives have always been:

• To improve the material conditions of our members and of working people in general.
  -To organise the unorganised
  -To ensure worker participation in the struggle for peace and democracy principles