The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) is proud to be associated with the Congress of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA). This is because over the last few years, NUMSA has demonstrated that it is one of the most vibrant trade unions on the continent pursuing the interest of the African working class.
It has joined the ranks of the labour movement on the continent which have successfully negotiated better working conditions for their members and insisted on the dignity of labour.
It is significant that this Congress is taking place at a time when the global capitalist system is facing eminent collapse. It’s pretence of providing for the social and economic needs of the peoples of the world has been exposed for what it really is.
More than a million citizens in the United Kingdom are no longer able to feed themselves on a regular basis. The budget deficit in the United States of America is growing by leaps and bounds, Pensioners in France are crying over the depreciation of their earnings and all of the West is reeling under an energy crisis leading to a major recession.
In Africa, the astronomical increase in food prices, cost of accommodation and transport coupled with lack of access to such social services as health, education and housing have worsened the plight of working people.
As a fact the neo-colonial regimes on our continent have truncated the bold attempt by the immediate post-independence leaders like Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to build self-reliant economies through the application of socialist principles. Today the resources of Africa including gold, diamond, bauxite, uranium, iron, oil and gas are practically owned by multi-national corporations from the colonial metropolis and are no longer exploited for the improvement of the quality of life of the working people. African resources are exploited largely for the purpose of expanding the bank balances of the ruling elite in the centres of exploitation and domination.
It is our hope that this Congress of NUMSA will renew its commitment to the unity of the trade union movement worldwide in the confrontation with capitalism and imperialism. The review of existing laws which permit the casualization of labour, the arbitrary dismissal of workers and a severe assault on trade union rights must be vigorously resisted.
In the spirit of international working class solidarity, we salute NUMSA for continuing to identify with the struggles of the working people of Palestine and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic who are boldly resisting the negative impact of colonial occupation on the lives. The working people of the world also demand an end to the crippling blockade and sanctions imposed on countries like Cuba, Venezuela and Iran.
The sanctions have denied the working people in those countries of their basic social and economic rights and must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
We extend our militant solidarity to NUMSA.
Viva NUMSA
Viva the Struggles of the Working Class Movement.
Viva the Struggles of the Working Class Movement.
Issued by the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG).
July 27, 2022