Unions ready for jobs campaign
TRADE unions gearing up for the launch of a new federation later this year are expected to announce a campaign against job losses this weekend.
TRADE unions gearing up for the launch of a new labour federation later this year are expected to announce a campaign against job losses this weekend.
Up to 3,000 delegates from 50 unions are due to meet at a summit tomorrow to discuss the possible formation of a new trade union federation, with the broadest possible participation being sought, summit convenor Zwelinzima Vavi, former leader of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said. Mr Vavi said there was an urgent need to put job losses and socioeconomic conditions back on the agenda. He panned what he saw as the cosy relationship of some union leaders with employers including the state.
Unemployment had reached catastrophic levels, wages had been falling “and if this was not bad enough, we are currently witnessing a new job-loss blood bath that is threatening to worsen our already disastrous political and economic circumstances”, he said.
While the list of participating unions and their membership would not be released before the summit, Mr Vavi said the unions expected to take part had been given 20 delegates regardless of size.
All trade union federations had been invited to attend the summit including Solidarity and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu). Themba Makeleni, a spokesman for the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu), said Amcu would participate as one of the federation’s 21 affiliates represented.
Solidarity general-secretary Gideon du Plessis said yesterday the union would use the summit to present some of its research.
“This is the ideal platform to show that despite the perceived differences we have, there are things we have in common, and one of the main things is job losses.”
On Sunday, both the nascent workers’ platform and Cosatu will hold May Day rallies in Gauteng, with both expected to place a heavy focus on the state of labour and the rapidly rising cost of living.