The more the merrier
MOVES by former Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi and other like-minded individuals to form a new labour federation are welcome.
Cosatu ’ s alliance with the ANC has meant that the former became entangled in ruling party politics, while bread and butter issues dear to the federation ’ s members played second fiddle.
A case in point was the rivalry for the leadership of the ANC between Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, with Cosatu backing the latter unconditionally.
It is this blind allegiance to Zuma by the dominant faction in Cosatu that, in part, ultimately led to the expulsion of Vavi and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, one of the biggest Cosatu affiliates.
The question that comes to mind now is, what have Cosatu members gained by its unconditional support for Zuma over the past seven years?
Zuma had been hailed as the champion of the poor and the working class ahead of his elections as president of the ANC and the country. The reality is that he has not delivered much to justify this claim by his backers.
Sure, the federation ’ s leaders get to rub shoulders with Zuma almost on a weekly basis at official and not-so-official functions and meetings.
The fixation with fighting Zuma ’ s personal battles to stay in power, it can be argued, has resulted in the neglect of workers ’ interests and proved costly to Cosatu.
Unhappy workers have decamped, resulting in the formation of Amcu (Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) in the mining industry, for example.
Vavi ’ s new outfit will deal yet another blow to the dream of unity in labour as envisaged by Cosatu founders.
Perhaps Cosatu ’ s biggest mistake was to decide to continue to be in bed with the ANC when the ruling party took charge of government in 1994. Being in alliance with the ANC meant that the party ’ s internal political machinations and infighting came to be imported into Cosatu ’ s affairs as well.
True, there were benefits. Government enacted labourfriendly policies and ambitious union officials rapidly climbed the political ladder, with some becoming cabinet ministers and board members in stateowned companies.
The problem is that over time, some Cosatu officials came to see politics as their primary focus, and used their positions in the federation as a stepping stone to lucrative political careers.
The cosy governing alliance was overdue for a shake-up. We hope the new labour front will put bread and butter issues back on the centre stage.
On the political front, Julius Malema ’ s vibrant Economic Freedom Fighters now offers another alternative to the ruling alliance ’ s hitherto virtually unchallenged hegemony.
Competition for people ’ s attention and support can only be good for the country.