The Congress of South African Trade Unions and Free Trade: Obstacles to Transnational Solidarity

Abstract

This article considers the response of the largest trade union federation in South Africa, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), to an extended free trade agenda, which has formed a key part of neoliberal restructuring during recent decades. It focuses in particular on South Africa's position in multilateral trade talks and its negotiation of three Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). COSATU's critique of these FTAs is considered and in particular the analysis focuses on its attempts at building transnational solidarity with other national labour movements. It argues that despite COSATU's opposition to trade liberalisation there are a number of obstacles to developing effective international links.