Union in good health

SIR — The Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) has noted with interest Natasha Marrian’s latest column (Fragile union movement on the road to irrelevance, February 13).

Ms Marrian says Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) affiliates are being eaten by a cancer that started at the top of Cosatu.

She mentions that Denosa, together with some other Cosatu affiliates, faces a revolt from lower structures.

As Denosa, we take great exception to this claim.

Denosa has just concluded its seventh national congress, which was held on January 23-24 in Boksburg, where representatives of all the structures of the organisation converged.

We are happy that none of this revolt was witnessed. Our intention here is to set the record straight, lest it paint a picture of our organisation being besieged by disunity.

The challenges in Cosatu are something Denosa is unhappy about and it has always been our hope that none of them are cascaded down to affiliates, as the effects would be most severe on workers.

It is still our hope that a lasting solution, based on the recognition of the essence of unity of workers, is found in all Cosatu affiliates.

While Ms Marrian’s right of freedom of expression should be respected, it is equally important that the same is done with responsibility at all times. Simon Hlungwani President, Denosa