October, 2003 Consolidating working class power for quality jobs COSATU’s 8 th National Congress 16 – 19 September 2003, Midrand Werner Rechmann, FES South Africa „We recognise that the challenges facing shopstewards and organisers have intensified..... far-reaching restructuring processes place huge technical and organisational burdens on unions trying to defend the workers affected.” Said COSATU President Willi Madisha, at the opening of the 8 th national congress, held on 16 – 19 September 2003, in Midrand. Madisha’s point was highlighting the complex challenges faced by trade unions as they pursue social transformation and the social dimension of re­structuring, both nationally and internationally. This point was to lay basis for intense deliberations around the organizational requirements of strengthening the trade union movement and its allies, in order to succeed in efforts to achieve social justice(or a better life for all, as the South Afri­cans would fondly say).