Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini started his closing remarks at the end of the federation’s 11th national congress last week by thanking “Gallagher Estate [and] particularly the workers who gave us excellent service”. The service by a small army of waiters and kitchen staff was indeed excellent, especially considering that the congress never kept to meal time schedules and the staff were on duty from 6am until 9pm, much of their time spent having to wait around as session after session was delayed.
What Dlamini did not mention was that the bulk of the staff were casual workers, revealing practically why a ban on casual work — temporary jobs at times of need — is probably unworkable. But what none of the nearly 3 000 delegates seemed to know was that most of these casual workers had to leave their homes in Soweto by 4am each day in order to get to the conference centre at Gallagher Estate.
Nor did anyone apparently ask any of the serving staff if they had ever been approached to join a union, let alone whether they were unionised. They are not and most complained, when asked, about pay at a claimed R5 an hour.
Cape Town, South Africa-based journalist commentator and author specialising in political and economic analysis and labour matters. 
Terry Bell Writes 
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September 24, 2012
Dear Terry Bell,
I am editor of a small Danish leftist periodical, Det Ny Clart (The New Clart). Next issue has as theme ‘trade unions and the left’ and it would be good to have an article about South Africa. What we are trying to detect are new trends, for example the rejection by more and more workers of the traditional ‘comprador’ trade unions. There would be an article about the situation in Europe/a more theoretical article about the role and development of trade unions, the particular situation in a European country, South Africa if that is possible. Northern Europe/Denmark perhaps.
So I would like to know if I could use some of your material or if you could or would be willing to stitch together an article on the subject yourself, apartheid, the development of Cosatu, the situation right now with the miners etc. The articles are 15.000 units with spaces. Translation to Danish would be done by us.
Hoping to hear from you,
Karen Helveg Petersen Det Ny Clart
Den 24/09/2012 kl. 15.39 skrev Terry Bell Writes:
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Terry Bell
September 24, 2012
Dear Karen,
You may, with pleasure, use any of my material. It is available for free publication by trade union, non-profit and Left publications. Where possible, I also do produce specific articles for such publications but I am currently too busy to take on anything. However, I will, by he end of this week file a column on the changed international affiliation of Cosatu that could have a bearing on what you are proposing. I shall forward it to you before blogging it if you send your email address. Please use mine: belnews@telkomsa.net
Regards,
Terry