Efforts by the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) to deliver a memorandum to the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) were thwarted when they were refused entry to the building in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The forum marched from Beyer’s Naude Square to Ceppwawu’s head office in Eloff Street in Johannesburg in support of the suspended leadership of the union.
APF spokesperson Trevor Ngwane said that Ceppwawu was refusing to take the memorandum, citing bureaucratic reasons.
”We are going to stay here until they take the memorandum from us,” he said.
Ngwane said that over 300 members were standing outside the building hoping to hand the memorandum over.
”They are saying they were not informed of our intentions but we sent them letters. If they go on we will have as sit-in. They have forgotten the power of the working class,” he said.
The APF want the re-instatement of the suspended leadership.
He said police were at the scene and trying to persuade Ceppwawu to take the document.
Police representative, inspector Amanda Roestoeff said there had been no incidences of violence thus far.
”They have remained very calm. However, they were meant to have dispersed at 2pm.”
She said police on the scene were trying to negotiate with Ceppwawu to accept the memorandum.
”If the marchers do not eventually disperse they are going to be charges with contravening the act on public gathering. We are still giving them some time and we are trying to help them,” Roestoeff said.
Earlier this week the union’s national treasurer, Charles Phahla, resigned in support of those who were suspended.
The row has its roots in a call for the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) to review its alliance with the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The fall-out started when the Gauteng leadership of the union was mandated to call for a referendum on the continuation of the tripartite alliance between Cosatu, the ANC and SA Communist Party.
The 73 000-strong Cosatu-affiliated union organises in the petrochemical, consumer chemical, rubber, plastic products, glass and ceramics, printing, pulp and paper and furniture and woodworking sectors. – Sapa