Ehrenreich will not join Saftu

CAPE Town union leader Tony Ehrenreich has no plans to join the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), but his options are open to “whoever fights for worker rights”.

Weekend media reports speculated on a possible move by Ehrenreich to Saftu, led by former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, but he has denied this, saying the ANC was best placed to uphold workers rights.

“It is quite clear that I will not move to any other union or federation. I am hoping to get another job at Cosatu, but one that would pay me a salary more linked to the people we serve.

“If the ANC wants to deploy me to Parliament or the legislature I would want a salary that is also much more in tune with our people. It is these large salaries that are creating a distance between us as leaders and the people we serve,” he said.

Last month Ehrenreich announced that he would not avail himself for the position of Cosatu provincial secretary at its elective congress in June.

Ehrenreich, in his resignation letter, told Cosatu’s provincial executive and its members he would not stand for any leadership position at the June 23 congress.

Since 1989, Ehrenreich has served as a shop steward, an official and as provincial secretary of Cosatu.

He intends to study for a year before looking for another job.

“I thanked the leadership for giving me this opportunity to be part of Cosatu and I thank all the amazing comrades I have worked with over the years in Cosatu and the labour movement and working class.”

A personal highlight of Ehrenreich’s career came in 2013 during the farmworkers’ strike that led to a 50% wage increase.

Ehrenreich, however, said he would remain open to whatever came his way.

“Certainly, nothing in life is permanent, and whatever might change in the future will change, and I will follow.

“The ANC and Cosatu will remain my home. There is no appeal to Saftu or any other union at this stage,” he said.