Service Departments

Parliamentary Office

The FEDUSA Parliamentary office based in Cape Town represents FEDUSA and our members in Parliament via

a system of monitoring of the parliamentary process. It is vital that FEDUSA monitor and influence the extensive

legislative process in Parliament effectively and efficiently.

Laws are passed which have a direct impact on our Trade union membership. The Parliamentary Office plays

 an important role in taking the FEDUSA mandate to Parliament. The Parliamentary Office also monitors the

functioning of the nine provincial legislatures in the nine provinces.

The FEDUSA Parliamentary Office provides legislative support to the affiliate members in the form of outputs

ranging from publishing National Executive reports; preparing and presenting oral and written submissions to

the portfolio committees in National Parliament and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP); as well as the

publishing of a parliamentary affiliate bill profile and electronic-newsletter. Where Legislation proceeds directly

to Parliament our office monitor the progress made and inform the FEDUSA affiliates to ensure that the necessary

mandates are obtained. Where legislation, which has specific bearing on an affiliate, enters the parliamentary

process the Parliamentary Office liaise directly with the affiliate concerned and provides the necessary information

and support service.

The FEDUSA Parliamentary Office also plays an important role in co-ordinating the work done by the

respective provincial Legislatures and informing the Provincial Executive Committees (PEC's) and FEDUSA Affiliates.

The Parliamentary Office functions as a lobbying instrument and ensures that FEDUSA interests

are represented in Parliament.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE FEDUSA PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE ARE:

	To ensure FEDUSA’ s presence at National Parliament (NCOP)
	To ensure FEDUSA ‘s participation in the nine provincial legislatures
	To ensure the interests of workers are defended and promoted in Parliament
	To input into parliamentary processes through oral and written submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees
	Monitoring and following all formal procedures in Parliament (Cape Town)
	To ensure that the FEDUSA affiliated unions are constantly kept informed of parliamentary issues events in sectors that they organise.
	To provide strategic support and advisory input to affiliates.
	To facilitate interaction amongst affiliates to examine and deliberate policy issues and other matters which are of mutual concern to define desirable industry - sectoral stances
	To advance the key activities of the Federation being the representation of the formalised policy positions of its affiliated membership to various organs of South Africa’s national and provincial governments.

Media & Communication

FEDUSA Media and Communications Department is aimed at promoting the overall image and service that the

Organisation offers. The Communication and Media Officer’s role is to help FEDUSA keep up with their affiliates

in the Media and also be the voice for them.

The Communication and Media Department uses innovation and integrity to communicate FEDUSA as the

forefront Federation for Trade unions in nationally.

Gender & HIV/Aids

The position of National Gender and HIV and AIDS Co-ordinator, has the responsibility of advancing the

 social-developmental agenda of FEDUSA. This objective is realised by spearheading the Equity Forum in this

regard, through advocacy work, as well as through the co-ordination, organising and the conducting of various

awareness-raising, and information-sharing sessions / seminars. This position also carries the responsibility of

managing all related Projects and activities such as the FEDUSA National Women’s Day events, Education and

Training Workshops and Campaigns on all Gender and Gender-related matters; on HIV and AIDS; Sexual

Harassment in the Workplace and on the Eradication of Child Labour.

Under the auspices of this position both the Federation’s Gender and HIV and AIDS Workplace Policies came

into effect. This has subsequently informed the Federation’s Strategies and Programmes in dealing with these

issues at the Workplace.

Research, Education & Development department

The Research, Education & Development department is an extension of the previous National Training

department. Although there is some overlap in terms of training co-ordination, the department is in many

aspects a new department with a greater diversity of responsibilities involved.

Research:

As this is a new department within FEDUSA, there certainly needs to be a lot of creative thinking involved in

order to optimise its functionality. One of these includes the establishment of an Information Resource Centre

 at FEDUSA House, where affiliates can come to access all kinds of relevant information.

Other possibilities can include a Research Advisory Council, consisting of experts in the fields of Sociology,

Economics, Psychology, Healthcare, etc. who can assist FEDUSA on a pro bono basis with certain research projects

 according to the needs of affiliates.

Education:

What is the difference between training and education? A quick Google search reveals that the difference

(traditionally) lies in the type of learning involved. Where, in the case of training, the level of learning is primarily

psycho-motor (doing), education is aimed at cognitive (thinking) learning. One could therefore simplify the distinction

by holding that education focuses more on theory (literature / book knowledge on general topics) and training more

on practice (practical hints / steps of doing specific things).

On the other hand, education also seems to be more political, and to a greater degree underpinned by ideology.

Training is usually straight-forward, neutral in terms of point of departure, and specific in terms of aim and focus.

One can also say that training is an element of education.

FEDUSA has several in-house training events and workshops every year, aimed at capacitating our Affiliates

so that they can promote the interest of workers and add value to the organisational effectiveness of their

respective trade unions.

FEDUSA also collaborates with Labour Service Organisations like the Development Institute for Training,

Support and Education for Labour (Ditsela), the KZN Workers College, the SETA’s and the CCMA on

several training courses every year.

Please contact FEDUSA for current and future training opportunities.

Development:

This is probably the widest and most diverse aspect of this department. Development can mean anything

from organisational development to human resource development to community / society development.

Organisational Development

Organisational Development (also known as OD in Human Resources science) is all about furthering the

interests of the organisation as a whole. This includes matters ranging from financial sustainability to

social footprint.

Developing the Federation

This department assists the General Secretary with the development of the Federation, including issues

like recruitment, media profile, identity, collaboration with other Federations, etc.

Developing our Affiliates

FEDUSA has a vested interest in the development of its affiliates, and therefore FEDUSA has a clear

mandate to support the development of its affiliate Trade unions by facilitating cooperation, mergers

 and memoranda of understanding for the sake of greater Trade union solidarity.

Human Resource Development

Covered under education and training discussion above.

Community and Society Development

Most of FEDUSA’s contribution to shared decision-making in the broader community and society takes

place at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC). This department actively represents

FEDUSA in the Trade and Industry Chamber and on task teams like the Services Task Team, Environmental Task

Team, and the Fund for Research into Industrial Development Growth and Equity (FRIDGE).