SOUTH AFRICA

The American Federation of Teachers must again raise its voice to condemn the racist regime of South Africa and to support the struggle by the majority of South Africans to realize their basic human rights.

In the past two years, there can be seen no real improvement in the conditions of black South Africans, let alone any significant steps toward the dismantling of apartheid. Indeed, the condition of human and trade union rights for all South Africans has deteriorated. The South African government, under its state of emergency, has continued to use arbitrary detention, including the jailing of children, censorship, and "banning" of individuals and organizations to try to repress any opposition. In February, the government clamped down further by banning most opposition groups in South Africa and limiting the activities of trade unions, including the National Education Union of South Africa.

Trade unionists have been killed, thousands of striking workers have been dismissed, and government troops have attacked union headquarters. The govern­ment also is imposing new labor laws which, according to South African unionists, are designed to strangle the trade union movement by preventing legitimate strike action or political activity.

In response to calls from black South African unions and the ICFTU, the AFT, at its 1986 national convention, endorsed the policy of economic sanctions and foreign disinvestment to press for the elimination of apartheid and the democratization of that country. Specifically, the AFT supported proposed national legislation to apply economic sanctions to South Africa, which became Public Law 99-440, the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. It also urged AFT affiliates to withdraw pension investments from multinational companies with investments in South Africa. The AFT resolved to take an active role in campaigns of protest against South African government poli­cies, to educate our members and to seek ways to assist black and non-racial teacher organizations in that country.

In light of worsening conditions for black South Africans, the AFT actively and publicly reaffirms its opposition to apartheid and supports measures to press for its elimination.

Specifically, the AFT endorses the passage of proposed legislation H.R. 1580, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Amendments of 1988, and its counterpart, S. 2378. This legislation would significantly strengthen economic sanctions toward South Africa and provide effective mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the legislation. The AFT agrees with the AFL-CIO that such legislation is necessary to help enforce and to prevent circumventing current sanction legislation.

The AFT also renews its call for the release of political prisoners in South Africa, including Nelson Mandela, as well as the establishment of full political and legal rights for all South Africans.

The AFT, in cooperation with the International Federation of Free Teachers' Unions, will continue to support the development of black trade unions, and, specifically, black teacher organizations. Additionally, the AFT, through its "Teachers Under Dictatorship" project, will expand its campaign to protest human and trade union rights violations in South Africa.