Acid test for unions workers’ summit

THE NATIONAL Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and what remains of its allies within Cosatu have passed the first test towards holding a national workers’ summit.

At a meeting on Monday, the unions received support from labour federations Fedusa (Federation of Unions of South Africa) and Nactu (National Council of Trade Unions) and “other unions” which were not named.

The summit, which was discussed at the meeting, will take place next month. Workers will deliberate on the trade union movement, which has become fragmented and weak.

“All the organisations present were happy with this initiative and fully endorsed the urgent need for strong, democratic and workercontrolled trade unions, and a united and independent national union movement.

“The union must be aligned with community struggles and national campaigns against corruption and for better health and education services, a decent national minimum wage and an end to retrenchments,” read a statement released by spokesman Patrick Craven on behalf of the unions and federations.

Cosatu is unlikely to support the initiative as it is being led by Numsa, a former affiliate of the federation. Also, despite having the backing of Fedusa and Nactu, it remains to be seen how many workers will back the summit, as Cosatu represents the majority of organised employees in the country.

It is unclear if unions belonging to Cosatu that are expected to be part of the summit will endorse the proposals of Monday’s meeting.

In the statement, the unions and federations expressed concern about the over-supply of trade unions in the country, which currently stood at 180. Only around 30 percent of workers are unionised.

Another worry was the splintering of unions which this group believed was bad for democracy in a country struggling with a number of social challenges, including unemployment and corruption.

“The meeting agreed that such fragmentation leads to less power for the workers, at a time when they face unprecedented threats of mass retrenchments and attacks on union rights,” Craven said.

A committee will be formed to chart the way forward to the summit.