Johannesburg - The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has cut all ties with the group of dissident Cosatu unions.
The decision was met with mixed feelings by the union’s leaders, who have differed on the subject since their last congress in 2014 resolved to join the group that supports expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and affiliate metalworkers union Numsa.
Although the union went back to Cosatu over a month ago, taking part in activities it had boycotted along with the other unions, it had now taken a step further.
In a letter titled “CWU’s withdrawal from the 9 plus unions”, the organisation wrote to its former allies, informing them of a national executive committee (NEC) decision that was made on July 12.
“This letter therefore serves as a formal notice of CWU’s withdrawal from activities of the nine plus unions. We thank all the nine plus unions for the support given to CWU this far,” said the letter, which was signed by deputy general secretary Thabo Mogalane.
The unions had just seen CWU through a gruelling eight-week strike against MTN, supporting the union’s campaigns and even staging a picket and press briefing outside the company’s headquarters.
Independent Media understands the decision was not supported by all members of the NEC. The union is said to have concluded that there would be no relevance for the group after the Cosatu special national congress was convened.
Labour Bureau