Johannesburg - The newly-registered Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) has written a letter to Cosatu requesting affiliation to South Africa’s largest trade union federation.
The one-page letter, signed by the union’s president, Sifiso Maphumalo, was sent to Cosatu’s six national office bearers on Tuesday.
Maphumalo says in the letter: “It is our conviction that a worker who is not in the federation is an unorganised worker.”
Limusa believes its chances of being affiliated to Cosatu are good now that the federation has expelled it metalworkers union, Numsa.
However, it is not going to be easy for Limusa to get the nod. Numsa is appealing its expulsion and has the support of 8 of Cosatu’s 18 affiliates. They are also demanding that Cosatu hold a special national congress before March which could result in the election of new leaders.
Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini, who generally does not have the support of these affiliates, has tentatively set aside July 13 to 16 for the special congress.
If the congress elects new leaders who have the support of Numsa and its allies, Limusa stands no chance of being affiliated to Cosatu.
Limusa , which was founded by ex-Numsa members who are unhappy with the political direction Numsa has taken, does have allies currently in Cosatu.
If Numsa loses its bid to be reinstated, this will open the door for Limusa. Affiliates opposed to Numsa, some Cosatu leaders and the SA Communist Party have appealed for metalworkers to not follow their leaders, but rather stay in Cosatu. Limusa believes it is the prefect home for disgruntled metalworkers.
Independent Media