Jobs summit a sham – Saftu

The jobs summit will not reduce unemployment, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) said yesterday.

The trade union federation has turned down an invitation from government to attend the summit which starts tomorrow in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.

It also published its letter to National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) executive director Madoda Vilakazi declining the invitation.

“Saftu has decided to decline your invitation as we do not believe that the summit will contribute anything to the reduction of unemployment, the alleviation of poverty or of inequality.

“We are also concerned that our participation might be simply a way to swell numbers and give the appearance of inclusivity when the agreements presented to the summit have already been fixed by the three constituencies of government, business and labour,’’ read the letter.

“Saftu is determined not to run the risk of being seen as party to resolutions like those at past summits, where empty rhetoric was used to cloak the protection of vested interests and prevent a genuine attempt to create jobs or redistribute wealth.’’

The federation was formed after the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) expelled its general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Vavi’s supporters, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), also left Cosatu. The thousands of members in these two unions formed Saftu, which was launched in April last year.

Saftu said government and business was unable to come up with solutions and would try to persuade labour federations at the summit to “sign a vague and hollow declaration in support of business as usual’.

‘’We call on members of the other union federations to demand that their leaders refuse to put their names to any declaration that reflects the employers’ interests only.

“The fundamental problem with the summit is that government and business, and unfortunately some labour representatives, fail to understand that the underlying cause of the economic crisis is the domination by the still overwhelmingly whiteowned monopoly capitalist class.’’

The conference will take place tomorrow and Friday in Midrand. – ANA

Saftu is determined not to run the risk of being seen as party to resolutions like those at past summits where empty rhetoric cloaked the protection of vested interests and prevent a genuine attempt to create jobs.