"If your union is not connected to the Internet it will be 'dot-dead` in a few years time," Cosatu IT Unit head Charley Lewis said yesterday. Speaking at the ACT summit in Pretoria, Lewis said that increasing globalisation means it is important to strengthen global union solidarity by exploiting technology.
However, Lewis said there are still many barriers to bridging the digital divide in the area of worker organisation in SA. The barriers include low literacy levels as well as the fact that less than 10% of the population speaks English as a first language. He also said unions need to build strategies to increase PC ownership among workers.
Lewis noted that the most important reason for unions to exploit technology is to better organise union membership and improve accountability and democracy. "Union members are hungry for federation news. Through e-mail and the Internet, it is possible to transmit union education materials, including basic adult education materials."
He said Cosatu is aware that most of its members do not own a PC, and the union is looking at ways of improving access to information. The union is investigating the possibility of PC purchasing schemes for members that would use the weight of the union to negotiate better deals and repayment schemes. The union has also introduced a free Web-based e-mail service at www.union.org.za.
Lewis said the "online rights for shop stewards" campaign has achieved some success within the clothing and textile sector, with shop stewards being granted access to Internet and e-mail. However, he stressed it is now important to move beyond demanding online access for just shop stewards to ensuring all workers have "reasonable" access to online information through employer networks.
He added that one area that has been neglected is the issue of online privacy and security, as many employers monitor workers` access and often prevent union activities.
However, he stressed the importance of "reasonable" online access: "A disconnected union is a disappearing union."
Related stories:
Share