The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), launched in 1985, played a key role in the overthrow of the apartheid regime. It is the foremost example globally of social movement unionism. COSATU combined political activism and bread-and-butter trade unionism to mobilise millions of people, combine with other allies, and bring apartheid to its knees. It was central in helping Nelson Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) into power. This insider account (2nd edition) tells of COSATU's first five years, when it operated in the most oppressive of circumstances. It is a story of triumphs and tragedies. Jeremy Baskin was brought up in eThekwini (formerly Durban). He did his undergraduate degree at the University of Cape Town in African History and Politics. Whilst neglecting his studies, he worked with emerging unions in Cape Town at this time. Banned for five years in 1976 as a result of this, he nevertheless remained politically active. In early 1983 he began working for the ex-UTP, but then FOSATU-affiliated Paper, Wood & Allied Workers Union (PWAWU) and was the Union's General Secretary for a number of years. He was appointed National Co-ordinator of COSATU in 1991, then founding Director of NALEDI (the COSATU-linked policy unit), before going to work in the post-apartheid government in 1996, in the Ministry of Labour. In the last 15 years he has switched his focus to environmental justice issues, working at the University of Cambridge and then acquiring a PhD from the University of Melbourne in the field of climate politics and science & technology studies.
