Johannesburg - Samwu on Tuesday said it is not one of the unions boycotting the Congress of SA Trade Unions' central executive committee (CEC) meeting.
“Samwu has noted with concern media reports that the union is part of unions that have boycotted the Cosatu CEC that is currently under way,” the SA Municipal Workers' Union said in a statement.
“We dispute this lies being spread through the media as malicious seeking to divide the union. Samwu has a full delegation to Cosatu CEC which is attending (sic).”
Samwu said it held a special national executive committee meeting which decided on full participation at all Cosatu's constitutional meetings.
The union pleaded with its sister unions within the federation to attend the meetings.
Samwu had no mandate from any of its structures to boycott Cosatu meetings, it said.
“We are of the view that the challenges that the federation is currently facing can only be addressed through engagement from within Cosatu and not through boycotts,” Samwu said.
On Monday, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi tweeted that he would not attend the federation's CEC meeting.
“I will not join the COSATU CEC - I don't believe going ahead with half of the unions refusing to participate is the best way to unify,” Vavi tweeted at 7.25am.
Responding to a tweet asking if staying away or boycotting would bring unity, Vavi said: “I twice attended the CEC with 340 000 dismissed and with half not present - that did not help unity project.”
At the time, Cosatu spokesman Patrick Craven said he had heard that Vavi and eight federation affiliates would not attend the CEC, but said he could not comment and the CEC would go ahead.
On Sunday, eight Cosatu affiliates pledged not to participate in the federation's meetings until the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) was reinstated, its the national office bearers said in a joint statement.
The eight unions include the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA, the Communication Workers' Union, and the SA Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers' Union.
“The group of eight has also resolved to write a letter to the ANC task team, which is still seeking to mediate in Cosatu, to explain very clearly that the eight unions will not participate in Cosatu meetings until Numsa is back.”
Numsa was expelled from Cosatu in November for contravening Cosatu's constitution. The expulsion was based on resolutions taken at Numsa's special congress in December 2013, including the decision not to support the African National Congress in the general elections of May 2014.
Cosatu called on Numsa to withdraw those resolutions. It refused.
An ANC task team was appointed to help Cosatu deal with infighting, including Numsa's expulsion.
Numsa and the eight affiliate unions' NOBs voiced their opposition to the federation continuing its CEC on Monday.
The unions applauded those who picketed outside Cosatu House on Friday in opposition to Numsa's expulsion.
The SA Democratic Teachers' Union's national executive however condemned Friday's protest.
The Cosatu CEC has granted the request of Numsa's allies for a special national congress to consider an appeal against the expulsion of the metalworkers' union.
Sapa