Cosatu congress a success
Union in W Cape emerges unified, and re-elects Ehrenreich as its secretary
COSATU in the Western Cape has emerged unified following its elective congress at the weekend, with no traces of the long simmering tensions and divisions that have plagued the federation nationally. About 850 delegates from 16 unions gathered in Pinelands to thrash out Cosatu’s action plan for the next three years.
The conference emerged with a clear vision to support the ANC during next year’s local government elections and reaffirming their commitment to protecting workers.
In a hotly-contested congress, Cosatu delegates opted to ignore the factional battles raging within the federation, between the pro- Numsa/ Vavi group and those against, instead showing a clear realignment of forces as they elected their new leadership.
Tony Ehrenreich was re-elected as Western Cape secretary for a sixth three-year term, despite opposition from NUM Western Cape regional organiser Benson Ngqentsu.
Ehrenreich has been Cosatu’s secretary in the province since 1996, with two years spent at Cosatu’s head office as the Deputy General Secretary before returning to his post in Cape Town.
Union insiders say the divisions that have plagued the federation at a national level were not prominent during the provincial congress with unions – even those on opposition sides of the Numsa debate – working together to unify the federation.
At least five Cosatu members agreed with the statement that: “One could say the Pro Unity Numsa faction triumphed in the province but in this case people opted to vote for Tony and not for the candidate supported by the South African Communist Party (SACP)”.
The province’s former provincial chairman, Dan Melapi, was not as lucky having been ousted during the congress, despite his name being punted for re-election prior to the conference.
“The big political point made is that the SACP’s candidate, despite fierce lobbying, did not make the cut. This has shown the SACP that the role played in fostering the divisions in Cosatu nationally would not be tolerated in Western Cape,” another union member said.
Others said the voting showed a clear deviation from the national agenda, with members ignoring what was happening elsewhere in the country.
According to Cosatu members the contest around the elections of the secretary was the most heated, with Ehrenreich emerging victorious after receiving backing from most of the unions. The rest of the leadership elected to drive Cosatu’s workers’ campaign forward in the province included Mogwase Tsobane, the newly-elected chairperson, Andile Ngqaneka as his deputy and Ingrid Leukes as treasurer.
Addressing unity within the ranks of Cosatu, Ehrenreich said the congress was encouraged by the outcome of last week’s special national congress that contributed to restoring unity and cohesion in Cosatu.
“We have considered the organisational challenges in affiliates and Cosatu and reaffirm the constitutional principle of worker control,” he added.
Ehrenreich said the most important declaration that emerged from the congress included Cosatu’s reaffirmation to protecting workers and a decent work province with a minimum wage.
“We will protect all workers including through solidarity strike action where disputes arise between workers and their bosses. More than ever we are committed to an outright ban on labour brokers and outsourcing in the province,” he added.
And the trade union federation identified racism – which it claimed was being promoted by the DA in the province – as its greatest challenge. “We are committed to stopping all forms of racism and discrimination in a practical way by changing attitudes and the way communities are built and serviced. The DA province continues to defend apartheid generational advantages of some white communities,” Cosatu declared.
The congress also resolved to ensure that the delivery of basic services, including health care, transport, education and housing, was prioritised in working-class communities.
And the Federation reaffirmed its alliance with the SACP, Sanco and ANC while concluding that the DA and its programme to segregate the Western Cape from the rest of the country as well as their promotions of racial tensions be defeated.
Cosatu also committed to releasing political leaders to be deployed by the ANC to serve the movement, after it emerged that some unions were unhappy that their secretary was also opposition leader in the city council, demanding he be forced to choose between his posts.
COSATU IDENTIFIED RACISM – WHICH IT SAID WAS BEING PROMOTED BY DA – AS GREATEST CHALLENGE