Unions put workers first
Cosatu and new kid on the block Saftu call for workers to stand together on Workers’ Day
IN SPITE of the the newlyformed South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and Cosatu being set to lock horns over many issues, the rival unions have something in common: “putting the workers first”.
As the country gears up for Workers’ Day celebrations tomorrow, inaugural general secretary of Saftu, Zwelinzima Vavi, said they would use the day as a launchpad to woo workers to their union.
Vavi said they had more than 700 000 members barely two weeks after the union was launched.
But Cosatu president Sdumo Dlamini was unshaken and has urged Saftu, the new kid on the block, to put workers first.
“Our common enemies are the employers,” Dlamini said. “What we need to do is to work towards democratising the workplace and trade unions in the country.
“We all must focus on servicing and recruiting more workers who are not in unions.
“Instead of Saftu saying they will try and recruit in Cosatu unions, that should be the approach that they must follow.”
Dlamini said unions must wage the struggle for economic transformation of the country, a view also supported by Vavi.
“There are huge inequalities in the workplace and in general. For us, that’s now the focus. We cannot achieve that if we are weakened, we must work together,” said Dlamini.
Vavi did not mince words when he criticised Cosatu for failing the workers, citing the national minimum wage benchmark of R20 an hour, which would come into effect in May next year.
“This is an insult to the millions of workers in the country who are underpaid. How can a person survive with R20 an hour?
“These are some of the issues we are going to be focusing on. We are saying the lowest paid worker must at least get a salary of R5 400 a month,” said Vavi.
The erstwhile general secretary of Cosatu, who was fired in 2015, said the union landscape would never be the same again after the entry of Saftu, “which will unconditionally put workers first”, he said.
Vavi will tomorrow lead a march from Currie’s Fountain to the Durban City Hall as part of the Workers’ Day celebrations.
Cosatu also has its own march planned for tomorrow in the Durban city centre.
Vavi said their march would be peaceful and urged Cosatu to guard its members against provoking them.
“One of the reasons we are marching is because we want to tell government that we are not happy with the exploitation of workers and the minimum wage.
“We are going to fight until workers are afforded the respect they deserve,” said Vavi.
Dlamini, who will be in Bloemfontein where President Jacob Zuma is set to speak at the May Day rally, said Cosatu members had always been disciplined.
“The day allows the workers to express themselves on their successes, which are what they will be celebrating.”
Vavi agreed, saying: “This day is all about the struggles that workers faced and emerged victorious.
“This is a day that reminds workers about the role they played in the fight for liberation.
“That’s why we should reorganise ourselves and wage a new struggle,” he said.
Dlamini said it was time to “refocus” and unite workers to build a stronger Cosatu.
“Workers must know that divided we fall.
“When we are united, we shall stand against any force.
“May Day must be seen in SA as one major point. Workers can stand together united. They must stand together and defend their own interest,” said Dlamini.