Some trade unions a disappointment

WE NOTE with disappointment that the unions we trust can sell employees to the employer so quickly and easily.

People who were supposed to be representing the workers decided to sleep with the enemy. They took a binding and unreasonable decision without consulting the people who trusted them.

Negotiations started long before the Treasury increment on VAT was announced and before the petrol price increase. They did not need a rocket scientist to inform them that they’d be stuck in their agreement for the coming three years. As for teachers and health sector workers who are expected to be intellectuals, it was disappointing; they are aware of the financial difficulties that members are going through, but they decided to ignore these factors.

Is it because our negotiators were getting double salaries that they ignored instructions given to them by the people who entrusted them? What made these negotiators sign an agreement without reporting back to the employees? Sadtu being the one with the majority of members was first to sign, together with Denosa and Popcru, even before members knew what was on the table.

What made Nehawu and Naptosa sign is known only to them. As for Naptosa, known to be reasonable and full of intellectuals, they are disappointing. The three unions that did not sign – PSA, Sapu and Hospersa/Nupsaw/Natu – are the ones which need to be congratulated for taking a firm stand as mandated by their members.

If possible, all employees in the unions which signed that lousy agreement with the employer or government, should stop their affiliation and form new unions or join the most trusted ones. It did not come as a surprise that those affiliated to Cosatu were the first to sign as to them, attending the negotiations was just a formality.

Teachers should unite and form an apolitical union which will represent the interests of intellectuals who will lead our future leaders to a responsible adulthood.

Popcru should cease to operate and join Sapu as they seem to have lost direction. As for Denosa, they should concentrate on their duties and stop calling for the recall of the minister of health because they don’t even understand the constitution, nor the provincial policy concerning health. Phasman Seloane