South Africa has a new ”super trade-union federation”, but the country will have to wait until July to know what it will be called.
South Africa’s grade-eight and -nine labour-relations pupils will probably be the first to know — the federation intends asking them to come up with its logo and name.
Representatives of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa), the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu), and the Confederation of South African Workers’ Unions (Consawu) signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to establish the new federation.
It will be politically independent, non-aligned and have about 1,1-million members, said Fedusa president Mary Malete.
”The aim of this unified entity will be to establish a super-federation that is properly resourced, administratively efficient and a strong activist for worker issues,” she said.
”We are confident that the formation of this unified entity will change the labour landscape in South Africa and advance worker interests and issues.
”This federation is not being established in opposition with any other federation, but to address and advance workers’ rights and conditions in a unified manner.”
Fedusa has 550 000 members from 26 affiliated unions; Nactu 327 000 from 18 affiliates; and Consawu 220 000 from 24 unions.
The new federation is expected to be operational by July, said Fedusa general secretary Chez Milani.
Four working committees will oversee the unification process and present their work to the three federations in February.
The Democratic Alliance expressed confidence that a union to ”challenge the ideological and political dominance” of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will benefit democracy and all South African citizens.
Solidarity
Trade union Solidarity has no intention of joining the federation, and is instead intent on maintaining its ”independent status”, said its general secretary, Flip Buys.
”Joining together three ineffective organisations will not produce a more effective organisation. What you get is an organisation that is three times more ineffective,” Buys added.
”After today, South African workers are left with three options. First there is Cosatu with its ties to the government, next comes the new federation with its cosy relationship with the employers, and then there is Solidarity, the trade union that will not hesitate independently to protect the interests of workers. The choice is an easy one.”
Milani was dismissive of Solidarity, saying: ”Who asked them?”
Cosatu said it has ”always supported the vision of one united trade-union federation in South Africa”.
The initiative could be a stepping-stone towards its vision of one country, one federation — but which is impossible without Cosatu’s 1,7-million paid-up members.
Cosatu warned the super-federation not to take the short-sighted position of becoming ”a significant rival to Cosatu”.
”If they take that position, it will suggest that Cosatu, rather than capital, is their main enemy. Such a move would only assist the employers and government, who will seize on the opportunity to play divide-and-rule,” Cosatu cautioned.
It appealed to the new federation to open talks with Cosatu, ”so that we can move towards the strong united federation we all aspire to create”.
‘Not opposition’
Nactu president Joseph Maqhekeni said he had spoken to Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi in the morning and made it clear the super-federation is not an opposition to Cosatu.
The question of a whether political alliance is in the interests of workers is one only Cosatu can answer.
”Cosatu took a conscious decision. We must respect that. They must think the approach benefits their members.”
Maqhekeni said the super-federation is satisfied that dealing with the government as a non-political, independent labour movement benefits its members.
Milani said Cosatu’s funding of particular political leaders, a reference to a benefit fund for axed deputy president Jacob Zuma, is counter to the spirit of the Labour Relations Act.
If Cosatu leaves its alliance with the African National Congress and South African Communist Party, a merger is immediately possible.
Consawu general secretary Kulile Nkushabana sees the merger as an opportunity to fight unemployment and poverty and improve the horrible conditions many workers still labour under, often for less than R1 600 a month.
This is hardly sufficient for two weeks’ groceries at current prices, let alone for sending children to school. — Sapa