/ 30 August 2006

Survey shows not all workers behind tripartite alliance

Only 45% of workers support the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) remaining part of the tripartite alliance, a survey has shown.

Most workers surveyed felt that the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and Cosatu should work harder to overcome their disagreements, Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said in releasing the survey’s findings in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, on Wednesday.

Ten percent of the 3 000 workers surveyed were of the opinion Cosatu should work with the ANC on only specific issues, 3% believed it should enter into an alliance only with the SACP and 14% felt it should leave the alliance altogether.

Craven said respondents were drawn at random from communities with an average income of under R10 000 a month and 40% of whom were union members.

The survey report added that those interviewed were ”workers who are either trade union members or likely to become members”.

Craven said slightly more than 20% of respondents believed the SACP should stand for election on its own.

”No other party came close to that figure, but 13% of Cosatu members refused to answer and 12% said they would not vote at all,” he said. — Sapa