A common purpose has brought the three main union federations to talks of a merger
Glenda Daniels
Mounting opposition to privatisation has drawn the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the National Council of Trade Unions closer together, and unity will be on the agenda in talks between two largest labour federations this week.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said this week Cosatu was so intent on unity it would scrap its name, logo and colours if necessary. “I am prepared to give up being general secretary for this.”
South Africa’s third major labour grouping, the Federation of Unions of South Africa, has also not ruled out participation in a merger.
Encouraged by the joint action during the anti-privatisation strike, Cosatu and Nactu say government’s macro-economic policies are emerging as a rallying point. More joint programmes are planned.
All South African unions are operating in a climate where company rationalisation and retrenchments are rife and union membership is dropping.
The historic divide between Cosatu and Nactu has been ideological, with the former embracing multiracialism and allying itself with the African National Congress, and the latter leaning towards the Black Consciousness Movement and the Pan-Africanist Congress.
Nactu’s long-serving general secretary, seen as PAC-linked, says there are now no ideological differences with Cosatu. “We have ANC and white members,” said Cunningham Ngcukana.
The stumbling block is the “question of Cosatu’s alliance with the ANC”, Ngcukana says. “We need an independent federation. Politics and policies need not be an issue; a new federation will determine a new policy. The issues that bind us together are stronger than the issues which divide us.”
Members would have to be convinced of the merits of unity because “naturally, if you ask them to give up their emblem or logo or their colours they might say no”.
Like Vavi, Ngcukana says Nactu would be prepared to sacrifice its name in a unity drive. “A name is nothing; flags are nothing, we are talking about people. The unity over the anti-privatisation strike was significant. That’s why I’m thinking we can do something now about unity.”
The 540 000-member Fedusa, often seen as a predominantly white federation, is 60% black, with a mixed racial leadership. But its middle-of-the-road politics distinguish it from the other main groupings.
General secretary Chez Milani prefers the term “moderate” to “conservative” as a description of Fedusa’s political stance. “It is positioned between the left and the right,” Milani says, and members view strikes as a last resort.
Fedusa is closest to the government on privatisation and the growth, employment and redistribution (Gear) strategy. “It’s not privatisation we are opposed to, it’s more the way it gets implemented, and the job losses we are seeing. We are not ideologically driven,” said Milani. He adds: “We were excited about Gear initially.”
However, Milani says Fedusa’s members agree with those of Cosatu and Nactu in wanting a summit on privatisation.
Wits University labour analyst Professor Eddie Webster says that because of the federations’ divergent traditions, thoughts of one all- embracing federation are premature in the short term. But he concedes that “the climate might be more favourable now for steady progress on unity”.
Ngcukana says Nactu has no problems at all with Fedusa. “[The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union] is one of their biggest unions and they joined in the strike. We have had discussions with them about this. At the end of the day we want a non-racial federation, this is what is important.
“Fedusa is open-minded about this. They are also raising the same questions. In fact, they have black members too.
“But I think they have a perception of Cosatu and us as being revolutionary. But joint programmes such as the ones over privatisation will continue. I’m now very hopeful of unity.”
Initial enchantment with Gear and privatisation is rapidly waning, now with massive job losses, bringing Fedusa potentially closer partners to Cosatu and Nactu.
Vavi says he would be happy for Cosatu to unite with Fedusa, irrespective of ideological differences.