No quick fix for Cosatu conflict with Numsa

683 21.10.2014 The Deputy Secretary General of ANC Jessie Duarte leaves COSATU house, Braamfontein. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

683 21.10.2014 The Deputy Secretary General of ANC Jessie Duarte leaves COSATU house, Braamfontein. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Oct 26, 2014

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Johannesburg - The divisions threatening to tear the country’s biggest trade union federation apart are not just ideological and will remain a challenge whether the National Union of Metalworkers of of South Africa (Numsa) is expelled next month or not.

Insiders from Cosatu’s extraordinary central executive committee (CEC) meeting this week said Numsa’s special national congress resolution to expand its scope was at the heart of the tensions.

Several officials of sister unions and two Cosatu national office bearers confirmed that next month’s reconvened central executive committee would hear Numsa’s argument for why it should not be expelled based on alleged flouting of the Cosatu constitution.

But a national federation leader said most affiliates were guilty of poaching and that the issue was being used as a smokescreen to get back at Numsa for the political stance it had taken against the ANC, the SACP and the tripartite alliance.

This week’s ANC report on mediation efforts to prevent a split says there is consensus on the principle of “one union, one industry”, but that wars over poaching between affiliates would fatally undermine the federation’s ability to do its job.

It called Numsa’s 2013 congress resolution to extend its constitutional scope a step too far, recommending that the union reverse it.

But, a discussion document prepared by Numsa makes the case that turf wars and rivalry between affiliates is neither new nor peculiar to one union only, setting the scene for further problems even if those calling for its suspension win the fight to have Numsa expelled.

Central to the discussion are resolutions from Cosatu’s 6th national congress pertaining to the formation of “super unions” applicable to South Africa’s new economic landscape in which value chains play an increasingly important role.

The six “super” sectoral unions meant to be formed by 1999 were:

* One primary sector union for mining, energy and related industries;

* Two manufacturing unions for metals, engineering, motor, rubber and smelters, construction, motor retail and plastic car parts;

* One clothing, textile, fibre-makers and food union;

* One public sector union including private sector health and education;

* Two private services unions including one for retail and hospitality, security and cleaning; and

* A second for finance, transport and communications workers including public transport and communications.

Instead, the federation has been brought to the brink by unions squabbling over complicated and outdated demarcations of scope.

Numsa argues that unions that share the same scope are numerous, including the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union, the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), Chemical Energy Paper Printing Wood and Allied Workers Union (Ceppwawu) and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).

In most cases, these have been tolerated or there are tacit agreements that allow the confluences but disputes have arisen in the past.

They include Airports Company SA workers who left Satawu to join Nehawu, staff at a North West mine hospital where Nehawu members were handed back to the NUM and Satawu’s anger over Sun City cleaners and security staff joining Saccawu

. Numsa has been caught in battles with the NUM, Ceppwawu and Satawu.

It argues that NUM, Nehawu, Sactwu and Fawu have all organised along the value chain, a practice codified by the Numsa special national congress late last year.

“Most of the newly registered unions, both independent and Amcu (the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union) are organising along value chains and have registered as general unions,” Numsa argues.

“There appears to be no conceptual sense or urgency in the Cosatu CEC on cross-sectoral solidarity (either within or between unions). As a result of this failure very vulnerable workers are denied basic organisational rights.”

It proposes that the overlaps need a comprehensive review rather than superficial solutions to prevent an exodus of Cosatu members to newly formed unions.

Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini said the only solution to the impasse over Numsa was to defend the federation’s founding principles and that any changes to the constitution would have to be debated at a national congress. “Only congress can make changes, no other structure,” he said.

But a leader from the opposite faction said those who wanted Numsa out of Cosatu feared being outnumbered at next month’s central committee meeting and therefore wanted to be assured of a majority before then.

He said steps in this direction had already taken place by purging people viewed as too close to Numsa in the SA Democratic Teachers Union and the SA Municipal Workers Union. “They will call for a congress after Numsa is gone,” the leader said.

A leader in the Numsa-faction said should the metalworkers union be expelled next month on the basis of its expanded scope, the matter would likely go to court.

He said that should this eventuality take place, the case would not be winnable for Cosatu.

Individuals close to Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi again said the popular leader would not stick around if Numsa were to be expelled.

Sunday Independent

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