Johannesburg -
Eight unions are threatening to go to court to force Cosatu to hold a special national congress.
They have served notice of their intent on the federation, which has failed to comply with the demand for a congress for nine months.
The unions, led by Cosatu’s biggest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), believe the congress is the only way the federation’s infighting can be resolved.
The congress would elect new leaders and decide on the future direction of Cosatu, particularly its relationship to the government and the ANC.
The unions asked for the congress last August and have accused the Cosatu president, S’dumo Dlamini, of dragging his feet on the matter.
The notice of motion, which was filed on Thursday, is the clearest indication yet that the current intervention by the ANC to bring unity to the federation will be shortlived.
Numsa and its allies firing the first salvo so soon after last week’s elections suggests that few in the federation believe the truce will be permanent.
The unions have given Dlamini and Cosatu until next Wednesday to respond. If they fail to do so, the unions will go to court on June 2.
They will ask the Johannesburg High Court to direct Dlamini to convene a congress within 60 days of the court order.
They also want a decision by a Cosatu special central executive committee earlier this year not to hold the congress to be declared unconstitutional and invalid.
At the time, Dlamini said a congress would not be held as most Cosatu affiliates were opposed to it.
He also argued that Cosatu did not have funds for the meeting.
Cosatu’s constitution stipulates that a special congress must be held if a third of its affiliates make the request, but does not give the time frame within which this must happen.