Congress will support the
work of Action for South Africa (ACTSA) to address
the appalling situation in Swaziland, where an
absolute monarch rules in luxury whilst his people
slide ever further into poverty, hunger and disease.
Sam McCartney from UNISON Scotland's International
Committee spoke passionately of a recent visit
to Swaziland as part of a delegation. "We
had to meet our Swazi trade union colleagues after
dark," recalled Sam, "so frightened
were they that they would be photographed meeting
with us."
"The Feudal dictatorship which runs Swaziland
represses its trade union movement and its people.
But more than that, it denies them education and
freedom from poverty.
"We must salute the launch of the Swaziland
Democracy Campaign," added Sam, calling on
the STUC to send a message of solidarity and offer
aid and support to the Swaziland Federation of
Labour and the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions.
"We must encourage trade unions to push
for the release of the President of Pudemo, the
Peoples' United Democratic Movement of Swaziland,
and to affiliate to ACTSA who have worked tirelessly
to assist the people and trade unions of Swaziland."
