Durban - The newly-formed independent union, the South African Public Service Union (Sapsu), said it would recruit members who were disenchanted with Cosatu affiliates, seen to be too close to the employer – the government.
The union’s KwaZulu-Natal co-ordinator, Joe Sibiya, said on Monday Sapsu was expected to be launched before June next year.
“We anticipate the national congress being not later than June next year,” Sibiya said.
He made the comments after the union held a provincial general assembly in Durban on Sunday.
Sapsu, which is headed by a number of leaders formerly aligned to Cosatu, was registered with the Labour Department last month.
Its interim leader is former SA Democratic Teachers Union president, Thobile Ntola.
“We are a public sector union. We are emphatic that we are independent, non-aligned.
“That does not mean we are not political,” Sibiya said, adding that plans were at advanced stages for the launch of the provincial structure of Sapsu.
The new union hoped to tap membership from the 70% non-unionised workforce in the public service.
Four months ago, the Statistics SA Labour Force Survey found that about 3.7 million workers in the country were union members.
Sibiya said Sapsu was recruiting in all departments in the public sector and tertiary institutions.
“We started early this year. Now that we are registered, my phone has not stopped ringing and the e-mail is overflowing,” he said, referring to interest shown by workers in joining the union.
He would not give national nor KZN membership figures, however.
“It is difficult to say at this point, as recruitment forms must be sent to the provincial co-ordinator.”
But he was confident the registration of the union has “excited” workers who have lost confidence in other unions, particularly those affiliated to Cosatu.
“The fact that they (Cosatu-aligned unions) are in bed with the employer, makes them (workers in public service) feel they can’t negotiate with the employer. They have leaders who aspire to be political leaders, climb the ladder to be in Parliament and legislature. People are really fed up,” Sibiya said.
He also said Cosatu campaigns, such as backing ANC election campaigns, did not help workers, and this had also informed the creation of the new union.
But Cosatu provincial secretary Edwin Mkhize warned workers to be careful of unions that would mislead them.
“These are fly-by-night unions in that the people who are in the forefront are the very same people who caused problems in our unions,” Mkhize said.
“These unions won’t be of help to them, as their leaders want fame. They want space to mislead workers as if they are to bring tangible change,” he said.
The Mercury
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