Johannesburg - At least seven affiliates of the Congress of South African Trade Unions are considering talks about establishing a rival labour federation following the expulsion of the nation’s biggest union.
“For the first time, we are beginning to consider the establishment of an alternative, including an independent federation,” Food and Allied Workers Union Deputy Secretary-General Moleko Phakadi said today in an interview in Johannesburg.
“Our preoccupation is to reclaim Cosatu but if all else fails, including the talks, negotiations, court processes and so on, then we will look into an alternative.”
Cosatu, the country’s biggest labour grouping, expelled the 350 000-member National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa on November 8.
The decision was opposed by seven of Cosatu’s 20 other affiliates and its secretary-general, Zwelinzima Vavi, setting the stage for a fight for the loyalty and membership dues of the federation’s remaining 1.85 million members.
Numsa was expelled after it withdrew support for the ruling African National Congress, an ally of Cosatu, five months before last May’s general elections, which the ANC won by a reduced majority of 62 percent.
Numsa says it’s trying to set up a group called the United Front that may become a political party to challenge the ANC.
The party of Nelson Mandela has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Vavi’s Suspension
Tensions within Cosatu erupted when the federation’s leaders suspended Vavi in August 2013 for having an extra-marital affair with an employee he hired and accused him of alleged misconduct related to the procurement of Cosatu’s headquarters.
Vavi apologised for the affair, while denying any other wrongdoing.
The High Court in Johannesburg overturned his suspension in April.
The dissident Cosatu affiliates have vowed to fight for Numsa’s reinstatement and called on the federation’s president, Sdumo Dlamini, to resign.
“Cosatu is at its weakest point than ever before and the federation is in need of strong leadership,” FAWU’s Phakadi told reporters in Johannesburg.
“At this point in time Sdumo Dlamini is not able to provide that, so he must resign.”
Numsa has 30 days to give written notice of its intent to appeal the expulsion from Cosatu, and the case will be heard at the federation’s national congress in September.
“Our legal team is working on both our appeal and challenging our expulsion from the federation and the documents will be done and sent soon,” Numsa General Secretary Irvin Jim said. - Bloomberg News