Trade Union Statements on the Crisis Within COSATU in South Africa
CEPPWAWU Respects COSATU CEC Decision to Expel NUMSA From The Federation
17 November 2014
As CEPPWAWU leadership we have decided to do the unusual, to respond to the lies made by NUMSA leadership after it had been expelled by the COSATU Special CEC which had been scheduled on the 7th November 2014.
As a union we have our own challenges like any other organization and unions all over the world and we are currently dealing with these challenges. But these cannot mute us to respond when we are under attack from anyone including NUMSA.
We are therefore releasing this statement to set the record straight about the lies which have been peddled by NUMSA leadership in the media about the COSATU Special CEC decision to expel NUMSA.
Lies, half truths, fabrications, slander, malice and insults have become a permanent feature which defines the NUMSA leadership.
They behave like the followers of Hitler and Goebbels of the Nazi German who believed that “by means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell -- and hell heaven...” and that you must “use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few”.
NUMSA leadership uses fiery Marxist Language as a cover up to woo the unsuspecting audience. This they do to hide their own liberalism and reactionary tendencies. They place personal interests first and the interests of the revolution second.
As Mao Tse Tung put it that they apply Marxism to others but liberalism to themselves. They keep both kinds of goods in stock and find a use for each depending on their selfish interests at any time. Their conduct remains at the service of the enemy which welcomes its preservation in our midst. That is why they are always given disproportionate air time by the bourgeoisie media.
Decision of the COSATU Special CEC to expel NUMSA
The decision to expel NUMSA was taken by a Special CEC of COSATU which had been duly convened in terms of the constitution. This decision was taken by the affiliates who are in good standing and this includes CEPPWAWU.
All unions which were in the CEC including NUMSA participated in the democratic process, including voting which led to the decision to have NUMSA expelled from the federation for violating its policies with impunity.
The expulsion of NUMSA from the federation has followed a very comprehensive and painstaking democratic process which was marked by NUMSA’s attempt to block the CEC from receiving its presentation including the failed court interdict against the sitting of the Special CEC to receive NUMSA’s presentation.
The decision was taken after all unions had been given a chance to read through the presentation which was delivered to them many months ago.
Everything was done to allow NUMSA leadership a chance to reconsider their position on their resolutions which stood in opposition to COSATU policy. Actually it can be said that NUMSA leadership had wrongly calculated that their intention to form a new federation would receive support from the membership.
When this backfired in their Congress when the membership refused to move out of the federation they retreated to a position of deliberately creating conditions through defying COSATU policy, forcing the federation to expel them as a way of winning the sympathy of an unsuspecting membership.
NUMSA have every right like any other affiliate of COSATU to convene its congress and take resolutions.
But such resolutions must not undermine COSATU’s existing policy. The duty and the responsibility of any affiliate is that upon taking any such resolution, it will subject them to the federation’s constitutional and democratic processes. This is done through a National Congress of the federation.
NUMSA refused to subject its resolutions to this democratic process, instead went to the media and publicly defied and ridiculed COSATU policy. They declared that there was no turning back and that they will vigorously push for the implementation of their resolutions.
This did not only end with their media statements but they actually went full swing and practically implemented their resolutions. This included amongst others the following:
1) They made a defiant call to COSATU to break its alliance with the African National Congress (ANC)
2) They neither endorsed nor supported the ANC in 2014
3) The ceased to pay their subscriptions and political levy to the COSATU
4) They continued poaching members from other COSATU unions under pretext that members come to them willingly
5) They extended their scope of operation into: glass production, sale and fitment; car valet and wash bay establishment; manufacture of jewellery, the refining of petrol, wholesale transportation, extraction and distribution of petrochemicals, mining and smelting of both base and precious metals; drivers that provide support to activities of NUMSA sectors; building and construction; auto industry textile, security, cleaning, canteen and health services that are covered by NUMSA scope; kiosks; industrial chemicals; alternative energy, information and communication technologies
6) etc.
Going back a little while down memory lane we recall that the merger talks that gave birth to CEPPWAWU became necessary because both CWIU and PPWAWU had adopted resolutions calling for "One Country, One Federation; One Union, One Industry". COSATU along the same lines is therefore democratically informed and shaped by well-thought inputs of its Affiliates.
When the decision to expel NUMSA was taken, it had become clear that keeping NUMSA represented by its current leadership inside the federation had become costly to the life of the federation. They fear and hate democracy. They listen only to themselves. They prefer raising their voices than to raise the level and quality of their argument.
When they lose a debate in the CEC based on the force of argument presented through a democratic process they go to the media to mobilize public sympathy and use that platform to spread lies and to insult the COSATU leadership and everyone who differs with their views.
They pay no attention to anybody. In this debacle, in came the veterans of the democratic union movement, the founding fathers of COSATU, to help restore sanity and stability in the Federation. It is a matter of record now that NUMSA showed disregard to the efforts of the veterans. We are however deeply disappointed by those among the veterans who also went out to echo destructive sentiments akin to those of NUMSA. We will again welcome the assistance of our founding fathers with a slight hint that all should emulate the leadership provided by the likes of Cdes Sydney Mofumadi, Makhulu Ledwaba and Ronald Mofokeng.
NUMSA Leadership misled the membership into taking decisions which included extending their scope by an additional fifteen sectors, eight of which are currently covered by CEPPWAWU. This excludes the Plastic and Rubber sectors. It was naughty, insolent and spiteful of NUMSA to extend its scope of operation into the territory of six other COSATU Affiliates. When it attacks COSATU, the ANC, the SACP and CEPPWAWU, NUMSA`s language leaves much to be desired. They hurl insults and demonstrate arrogance and disrespect. Their action disrespects COSATU`s founding principle and adds to the malicious attack against CEPPWAWU that NUMSA sustained under the cloak of "overlapping scopes". The latter refers to the Plastic and Rubber sectors.
Prior to this provocative expansion of its scope, NUMSA used sector demarcation as a tool to re-demarcate CEPPWAWU members out of MEIBC (Engineering sector) and NBCCI (Chemical sectors) and into MIBCO (Motor sector) aware that CEPPWAWU is not party to the Motor Industry.
Today the same NUMSA is applying for membership of the NBCCI which it is working hard to destroy through re-demarcation of companies out of it!
These also include the Plastic companies, Glass companies and Chemical companies whose products may be sold directly to individual customers and not necessarily the motor components that are "only" used in assembly of automobiles and related accessories.
The question should be asked as to why would NUMSA want to organize beyond its scope and weaken COSATU unions when it knows that this will not increase the total membership of COSATU but will weaken and destroy other unions?
Why does NUMSA hunt in a Zoo, recruit members who have already been unionized when there is glaring evidence that 71% of 10.3 million employed workers (i.e. 7.3 million) are not unionised, that 54% of the workers receive no regular wage increments or have their wages determined solely by their employers and bargaining councils cover just 9% of the workforce, while only 23% of the workers’ wages are negotiated directly through unions?
Surely NUMSA has not reached a ceiling in its sector. Why would NUMSA respond to the restructuring of the economy by acting in a selfish manner which only put its interests against the interests of the federation as whole? When membership in the employ of SASOL is the main anchor of the Union, what else does NUMSA wants to achieve by poaching our members there if not to destroy the Union? How do workers at Consol Glass fit into NUMSA sectors when they manufacture flat glass, tableware and containers?
NUMSA has extended its scope knowing very well that such an action is against the policies of the Federation. The objective was bigger than just extending the scope but the objective was to use the extension of scope to recruit members and use such membership as a base for the establishment of a political party and thus a new federation.
In other words NUMSA wanted to remain inside COSATU for one reason and one reason only , which is to use the name of COSATU and its infrastructure to set up a new organisation which will stand in opposition to COSATU.
We are now aware that it is using metalworkers` hard-earned funds to sponsor court actions brought against the Union`s genuine leaders by dissident individuals. For NUMSA to expand its scope into the Chemical and Energy sectors it is telling that CEPPWAWU has become its primary target. But this comes as no surprise to the Union leadership. We are happy that they came out very clear for the public and all workers to see. It is no longer a secret!
Ordinary workers receiving meager wages at an average of R3,000 have so far spent R8 million rand in litigation against their own Union in courts. The question is who is paying for them?
We have noted that the lawyers who work for those who took the Union to courts are the same lawyers and advocates who were used by NUMSA against COSATU. Again, those who took the Union to courts have employed the services of a VIP security, the same company which is used by NUMSA. We once again ask as to who is paying them?
As for the court action, we are ready to present facts as we know them. We have evidence for accusation that has been made and we have evidence about all those who have played a role to destroy the Union in exchange for a promise to be given money which belongs to the workers.
Our issuing of this statement is to set the record to our members, our associates and the public at large lest hogwash lies peddled in the public domain mislead our people. We are deeply concerned that NUMSA`s disingenuous pronouncements fed the public by an equally partisan media is misleading many.
There are commentators and journalists doing much damage to the unity and hegemony of COSATU who make unfounded allegations and distort internal doings of COSATU as if they are COSATU insiders – as if they actually do participate in COSATU`s decision-making processes. If left unchecked, their assertions will break the unity of the organized working masses apart. As the Union leadership, we cherish the unity of workers and the unity of COSATU. Only a united workers` movement can make a meaningful contribution in the struggle to democratize the workplace and reverse the frontiers of the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
We welcome the decision of the COSATU CEC to expel NUMSA from the Federation. They are responsible for their expulsion. They deliberately invited their expulsion in order to gain public and membership sympathy. We will continue to defend the constitution and policies of COSATU including its leadership with everything we have.
Imagine the kind of a federation COSATU would turn out to be if it brought together industry-based trade unions and one union which has a right to straddle across fifteen other industries that are already covered by the scopes of member-Affiliates!
As the CEPPWAWU leadership we are bracing ourselves for an open war of influence on the members with NUMSA. We commit to the call of COSATU to reach out to members in their different structures and formations to explain the CEC decision and guard that they should not be swayed by distracting stories. COSATU policies of strong militancy, political independence as well as its stance against Labour Brokering and e-tolling remain unchanged to this day. Our commitment to COSATU too should remain unchanged.
We call on COSATU to fast-track the decision to admit into the ranks of the federation the more than three new unions which have submitted their application. We commit to go out and spur none of our energies to strengthen our own Union as part of the process of defending COSATU.
Our members know where they stand and why are they are not members of any other Affiliate or federation. They will continue to love and defend COSATU! We, together with the members we lead, pledge our loyalty to COSATU as well as to continue to respect the decisions of our constitutional structures including the CEC.
Phambili nge COSATU, Phambili!!!
Issued by CEPPWAWU Head Office
Contact: Cde Simon Mofokeng, General Secretary (see letterhead for contacts)
POPCRU on NUMSA`s expulsion from COSATU
17 November 2014
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is a public sector union organising 158 000 workers in the South African Police Service, Correctional Services and Traffic components. We are proudly affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions and for the past nineteen years we have been together with others responsible for the growth of the federation into the giant movement it is today. POPCRU is a majority union in the security sector and continues to grow in leaps and bounds. This, we deem as confidence by our members and those who join us every day in our capacity and ability to protect their needs and ensure better working conditions for all. Our primary mandate is exactly that, to see to it that our members’ quality of life improves and that their working conditions are according to internationally conferred conducive standards.
It is therefore only normal that we should be worried about the current state of COSATU, however more so about the misconstrued information that is being peddled into the public discourse through the media by NUMSA along with unions of its ilk.
We have watched in silence as our name was dragged through the mud. Due to our respect towards a mandate passed by our members that we should abide by the rules and principles of the federation, we have been silent on matters many deemed important for us to respond to. In their post CEC press conference, the Metalworkers Union stated that POPCRU had spoken against the COSATU campaign on e-tolls. We need to correct this lie by stating what was resolved in an October NEC of POPCRU. The organisation was against the form of protest used by COSATU which involved actions which entailed criminality and NOT the campaign against the e-tolls. We are fully bound by the federation’s policy position on this matter. We were concerned with the call on citizens to resort to anarchy in registering their discontent with the user-pay model of the improved highways. POPCRU expressed at the time a concern, as we believed the call would be deemed as encouragement by those who want to perpetuate criminality through protests.
We raise our voice today, seeing that all processes have been concluded up to this point on the issues at hand. And we wish to state that we supported for the expulsion of NUMSA from the federation for violating the federation’s policy positions and principles. This, as we once again carried our mandate given by the union’s 158 000 members in the past and most recently at our Central Executive Committee 02 – 04 November 2014 in Limpopo mandated us to call for NUMSA’s expulsion. At the core of this decision is the fact that NUMSA has blatantly violated the COSATU constitution and its policies. The federations’ constitution is very clear on what should happen to affiliates who commit such desecrations. We grew tired of the incessant insults hurled towards us and the COSATU leadership by a fellow affiliate.
Our members further expressed their disgust at being associated with this union which made clear its intentions to break away from COSATU and form a structure which would pursue principles opposed to those of the federation. They therefore concluded that if NUMSA could not change its stance, it should leave voluntarily, otherwise we should bravely vote its expulsion in favour of a united COSATU which speaks with one voice. We could not watch as an affiliate made a mockery of the federation with the belief that they would be protected by their majority status. POPCRU is confident that COSATU has not lost 350 000 plus members who are carried by the NUMSA banner because it will remain a home for all progressive workers of this country despite their affiliation to the now expelled NUMSA.
The federation had been dragged to court, in the process we have been attacked and called names and we see no reason to continue on this repulsive path. It would be easier to rebuild the federation with those who advocated its survival and unity than fighting off dissent from within. POPCRU and its members, understand the magnitude of the decision to expel NUMSA. We are however comfortable in the knowledge that we have done all within our power to remedy the situation without resorting to extreme measures, but we have failed dismally in the face of strengthened attacks on COSATU by the NUMSA leadership. We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the NUMSA leadership, that not all is lost, should they realign their principles with those of the federation, and the door will be swiftly opened for their return to the fold. There’s always room for change and we are of the view that if the NUMSA leadership truly value unity and the survival of the federation, then they can assist everybody by abiding by the COSATU Constitution and reclaiming their place within the federation.
POPCRU is an affiliate of COSATU, thus unashamedly members and supporters of the African National Congress and the SACP. Our alliance in the tri-partite alliance and co-operation is something we hold dear to our hearts because none of us would be here today, enjoying the right to union affiliation, had it not been for the ANC government. We are also aware of our role in the need to protect the movement as a whole in the face of direct attacks from those who deem themselves and nobody else able to lead the federation successfully.
NUMSA has made several statements regarding the ANC led government and its programmes, specifically the NDP. We respect the right to self-determination of the former COSATU union. There are processes which are set out, including discussion forums such as the Alliance Summit, which provide all involved to present their position on a variety of issues, and NUMSA had such an opportunity. If then failure to convince the majority leads to disassociation, we should have been wary of NUMSA a long time ago.
It is proven beyond doubt that the union which is now expelled from the federation has always sought to distinguish itself as an entity outside the prescripts of the federation. Their resolve to deliberately misinterpret resolutions of COSATU is indicative of a union destined for a different direction than that of the collective. The following are examples of such tendencies:
- NUMSA’s call on COSATU to break away from the alliance.
- The decision to establish a new United Front
- Side by Side with the establishment of the new United Front, NUMSA will explore the establishment of a Movement for Socialism as the working class needs a political organisation committed to its policies and actions to the establishment of a socialist South Africa.
All this surfaces whilst the federation held a firm view that amongst other things, our policies must be underpinned by our ideological vision of a socialist society in deepening the relationship with the SACP, COSATU should provide resources that will help strengthen the SACP and transform it into a formidable force capable of meeting challenges and leading the struggle for socialism. And that COSATU should further establish party units in workplaces and strengthen the SACP. In light of these resolutions by the federation, we see no need for NUMSA to have undertaken any of the resolutions as they seek to achieve a mandate parallel to the work COSATU has begun in striving for a socialist South Africa.
All of us are governed by democratic centralism. This concept is applicable all the time, when you win and when you lose. When during the COSATU 11th congress POPCRU failed to convince delegates to vote along with us on a motion to go to the polls for a new leadership, we humbly accepted the decision of the majority which is binding to all affiliates. This is how we expected any other affiliate to behave. Hence we are shocked by the decision of the 7 fellow affiliates who took to the media to announce they would not be taking part in COSATU meetings. We deem this behaviour as immature and unprogressive, as it is similar to rants of a child who cannot get their own way. During these testing times, we appeal to these affiliates to exercise discipline and hold dear the values which have governed this giant federation for decades.
All affiliates were present in the Special Central Executive Committee of 07 November 2014 and witnessed democracy at play. We are therefore very shocked they are contesting a decision which they were party to in the public discourse. This also includes the General Secretary of the federation who has taken it upon himself to publicly distance himself from the decision of the federation, which he also is part of and is supposed to uphold. POPCRU has long wondered about the General Secretary’s motives and loyalty to the federation since his office is charged with the responsibility of implementing the resolutions of the federation. He appears to be acting contrary to these decisions, with his recent letter pointing to that fact. He cannot act as an individual and remove himself from the collective COSATU leadership as he pleases if he is indeed interested in the unity of the federation.
On the questions surrounding the presence of the 2nd Deputy President of COSATU within the federation despite her disaffiliation to NUMSA, we would like to put it on record that Zingiswa Losi is an elected POPCRU shop steward serving as a chairperson under Thaba Tshwane Local. She was elected shortly after her appointment in the South African Police Service where she took a vow to serve and protect the citizens of this country. She occupied this role following her resignation from her previous employment at Ford.
We are resolute that the decision to rid the federation of NUMSA is a building block to a COSATU that speaks with one voice when a decision is taken for the benefit of all workers in the country and abroad. We also agree with the COSATU leadership that indeed the unity of the federation is the ultimate price and we are willing to do all in our power to achieve this.
Issued by POPCRU 14 November 2014
For more information contact;
Nkosinathi Theledi
POPCRU General Secretary
Cell: 0825677803
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Press statement following successful mass meeting of shop stewards and members from the seven unions plus NUMSA
17 November 2014
The seven unions (FAWU, SACCAWU, PAWUSA, SASAWU, CWU, DENOSA and SAFPU) plus NUMSA convened a joint meeting of shop stewards and members, attended by 2 200 participants, at the City Hall on Sunday (16th November 2014) having started at 10h30 and scheduled to end at 14h30 to report on the crises ravaging COSATU.
The mass meeting was addressed by the General Secretaries of FAWU and CWU, respectively Katishi Masemola and Aubrey Tshabalala, before a key-note address by the President of NUMSA, Andrew Chirwa.
Katishi Masemola indicated that there cannot be a united COSATU without NUMSA and there cannot be unity without others and that a united COSATU is a first prize and the only prize hoping that the basis for such a united federation will be the implementation of the 2012 COSATU National Congress Resolutions.
Katishi reflected that challenges in the federation, with NUMSA expelled, means the working class will be the loser and those gaining will be Capital as it intensifies ‘class terror’ (super-exploitation, be it through youth wage subsidy and labour broking or other ways) and the State as it aggressively pursues neoliberal policy trajectory, with National Development Plan (NDP) as its apex, all against the workers, the poor and entire working class.
Aubrey Tshabalala indicated that the rationale discussions and robust debates have been replaced by ‘Lets Vote’ and voting is now happening on every issue, including on the adoption of agenda and approval of credentials among others. This, he said, let to NUMSA expelled without substantive debates on the content of a 59-page submission delivered over three hours.
Aubrey further insisted that the struggle of the 8 unions plus NUMSA is about reclaiming COSATU back to its rightful owners, which are workers and not the 33 individual leaders, many without a mandate to expel NUMSA.
The NUMSA President explained the NUMSA Resolutions and took the meeting through the rationale behind their resolutions of their Special Congress in December 2013 and on the five charges that it was charged for as a result of the court outcome forcing this clarity.
Chirwa took the meeting through the five charges and why these are frivolous and how the defective procedure has led to a botched process in that no guilty verdict was arrived at and the sanction was based on preconceived ‘surgical removal’ sentiments held by some affiliates before the Special COSATU CEC in which this comprehensive submission was made.
NUMSA President explained that the implementation of the Freedom Charter is their uncompromising clarion call and the basis for their Resolutions. A Freedom Charter that must move South Africa from the dire situation facing the working class to a truly better life to workers and the poor than an enrichment of the few, no matter how black they may be.
He explained that the National Development Plan (NDP) does not represent this vision of the Freedom Charter but it is neoliberal program that will trap the working class in treble-crises of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Participants were allowed to ask questions/clarifications and to make comments and the overwhelming majority was in full support for the immediate re-admission of NUMSA into the federation and encouraged the seven affiliates to keep fighting for such a noble cause.
The underlying key theme in virtually all the questions asked by workers was whether we stay in COSATU or we form another federation. The answers from leaders and from other participants, which ultimately became decisions, were that we will fight for our COSATU that has NUMSA and return that COSATU to its rightful owners, the workers, with Special National Congress as a platform to achieve those goals.
The press statement was issued at 14h00 when workers were still engaged in discussions and debates on the state of their federation.
For more details please contact the SACCAWU and FAWU Free State/Northern Cape Regional Secretaries, respectively Jerry Mmoneri on 082 336 9298 and Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039
Issued by
KATISHI MASEMOLA
FAWU General Secretary
Obo the Seven Unions
- See more at: http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=9749#sthash.43cF3uxv.dpuf
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| South African trade unionist are divided over direction and policy. |
17 November 2014
As CEPPWAWU leadership we have decided to do the unusual, to respond to the lies made by NUMSA leadership after it had been expelled by the COSATU Special CEC which had been scheduled on the 7th November 2014.
As a union we have our own challenges like any other organization and unions all over the world and we are currently dealing with these challenges. But these cannot mute us to respond when we are under attack from anyone including NUMSA.
We are therefore releasing this statement to set the record straight about the lies which have been peddled by NUMSA leadership in the media about the COSATU Special CEC decision to expel NUMSA.
Lies, half truths, fabrications, slander, malice and insults have become a permanent feature which defines the NUMSA leadership.
They behave like the followers of Hitler and Goebbels of the Nazi German who believed that “by means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell -- and hell heaven...” and that you must “use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few”.
NUMSA leadership uses fiery Marxist Language as a cover up to woo the unsuspecting audience. This they do to hide their own liberalism and reactionary tendencies. They place personal interests first and the interests of the revolution second.
As Mao Tse Tung put it that they apply Marxism to others but liberalism to themselves. They keep both kinds of goods in stock and find a use for each depending on their selfish interests at any time. Their conduct remains at the service of the enemy which welcomes its preservation in our midst. That is why they are always given disproportionate air time by the bourgeoisie media.
Decision of the COSATU Special CEC to expel NUMSA
The decision to expel NUMSA was taken by a Special CEC of COSATU which had been duly convened in terms of the constitution. This decision was taken by the affiliates who are in good standing and this includes CEPPWAWU.
All unions which were in the CEC including NUMSA participated in the democratic process, including voting which led to the decision to have NUMSA expelled from the federation for violating its policies with impunity.
The expulsion of NUMSA from the federation has followed a very comprehensive and painstaking democratic process which was marked by NUMSA’s attempt to block the CEC from receiving its presentation including the failed court interdict against the sitting of the Special CEC to receive NUMSA’s presentation.
The decision was taken after all unions had been given a chance to read through the presentation which was delivered to them many months ago.
Everything was done to allow NUMSA leadership a chance to reconsider their position on their resolutions which stood in opposition to COSATU policy. Actually it can be said that NUMSA leadership had wrongly calculated that their intention to form a new federation would receive support from the membership.
When this backfired in their Congress when the membership refused to move out of the federation they retreated to a position of deliberately creating conditions through defying COSATU policy, forcing the federation to expel them as a way of winning the sympathy of an unsuspecting membership.
NUMSA have every right like any other affiliate of COSATU to convene its congress and take resolutions.
But such resolutions must not undermine COSATU’s existing policy. The duty and the responsibility of any affiliate is that upon taking any such resolution, it will subject them to the federation’s constitutional and democratic processes. This is done through a National Congress of the federation.
NUMSA refused to subject its resolutions to this democratic process, instead went to the media and publicly defied and ridiculed COSATU policy. They declared that there was no turning back and that they will vigorously push for the implementation of their resolutions.
This did not only end with their media statements but they actually went full swing and practically implemented their resolutions. This included amongst others the following:
1) They made a defiant call to COSATU to break its alliance with the African National Congress (ANC)
2) They neither endorsed nor supported the ANC in 2014
3) The ceased to pay their subscriptions and political levy to the COSATU
4) They continued poaching members from other COSATU unions under pretext that members come to them willingly
5) They extended their scope of operation into: glass production, sale and fitment; car valet and wash bay establishment; manufacture of jewellery, the refining of petrol, wholesale transportation, extraction and distribution of petrochemicals, mining and smelting of both base and precious metals; drivers that provide support to activities of NUMSA sectors; building and construction; auto industry textile, security, cleaning, canteen and health services that are covered by NUMSA scope; kiosks; industrial chemicals; alternative energy, information and communication technologies
6) etc.
Going back a little while down memory lane we recall that the merger talks that gave birth to CEPPWAWU became necessary because both CWIU and PPWAWU had adopted resolutions calling for "One Country, One Federation; One Union, One Industry". COSATU along the same lines is therefore democratically informed and shaped by well-thought inputs of its Affiliates.
When the decision to expel NUMSA was taken, it had become clear that keeping NUMSA represented by its current leadership inside the federation had become costly to the life of the federation. They fear and hate democracy. They listen only to themselves. They prefer raising their voices than to raise the level and quality of their argument.
When they lose a debate in the CEC based on the force of argument presented through a democratic process they go to the media to mobilize public sympathy and use that platform to spread lies and to insult the COSATU leadership and everyone who differs with their views.
They pay no attention to anybody. In this debacle, in came the veterans of the democratic union movement, the founding fathers of COSATU, to help restore sanity and stability in the Federation. It is a matter of record now that NUMSA showed disregard to the efforts of the veterans. We are however deeply disappointed by those among the veterans who also went out to echo destructive sentiments akin to those of NUMSA. We will again welcome the assistance of our founding fathers with a slight hint that all should emulate the leadership provided by the likes of Cdes Sydney Mofumadi, Makhulu Ledwaba and Ronald Mofokeng.
NUMSA Leadership misled the membership into taking decisions which included extending their scope by an additional fifteen sectors, eight of which are currently covered by CEPPWAWU. This excludes the Plastic and Rubber sectors. It was naughty, insolent and spiteful of NUMSA to extend its scope of operation into the territory of six other COSATU Affiliates. When it attacks COSATU, the ANC, the SACP and CEPPWAWU, NUMSA`s language leaves much to be desired. They hurl insults and demonstrate arrogance and disrespect. Their action disrespects COSATU`s founding principle and adds to the malicious attack against CEPPWAWU that NUMSA sustained under the cloak of "overlapping scopes". The latter refers to the Plastic and Rubber sectors.
Prior to this provocative expansion of its scope, NUMSA used sector demarcation as a tool to re-demarcate CEPPWAWU members out of MEIBC (Engineering sector) and NBCCI (Chemical sectors) and into MIBCO (Motor sector) aware that CEPPWAWU is not party to the Motor Industry.
Today the same NUMSA is applying for membership of the NBCCI which it is working hard to destroy through re-demarcation of companies out of it!
These also include the Plastic companies, Glass companies and Chemical companies whose products may be sold directly to individual customers and not necessarily the motor components that are "only" used in assembly of automobiles and related accessories.
The question should be asked as to why would NUMSA want to organize beyond its scope and weaken COSATU unions when it knows that this will not increase the total membership of COSATU but will weaken and destroy other unions?
Why does NUMSA hunt in a Zoo, recruit members who have already been unionized when there is glaring evidence that 71% of 10.3 million employed workers (i.e. 7.3 million) are not unionised, that 54% of the workers receive no regular wage increments or have their wages determined solely by their employers and bargaining councils cover just 9% of the workforce, while only 23% of the workers’ wages are negotiated directly through unions?
Surely NUMSA has not reached a ceiling in its sector. Why would NUMSA respond to the restructuring of the economy by acting in a selfish manner which only put its interests against the interests of the federation as whole? When membership in the employ of SASOL is the main anchor of the Union, what else does NUMSA wants to achieve by poaching our members there if not to destroy the Union? How do workers at Consol Glass fit into NUMSA sectors when they manufacture flat glass, tableware and containers?
NUMSA has extended its scope knowing very well that such an action is against the policies of the Federation. The objective was bigger than just extending the scope but the objective was to use the extension of scope to recruit members and use such membership as a base for the establishment of a political party and thus a new federation.
In other words NUMSA wanted to remain inside COSATU for one reason and one reason only , which is to use the name of COSATU and its infrastructure to set up a new organisation which will stand in opposition to COSATU.
We are now aware that it is using metalworkers` hard-earned funds to sponsor court actions brought against the Union`s genuine leaders by dissident individuals. For NUMSA to expand its scope into the Chemical and Energy sectors it is telling that CEPPWAWU has become its primary target. But this comes as no surprise to the Union leadership. We are happy that they came out very clear for the public and all workers to see. It is no longer a secret!
Ordinary workers receiving meager wages at an average of R3,000 have so far spent R8 million rand in litigation against their own Union in courts. The question is who is paying for them?
We have noted that the lawyers who work for those who took the Union to courts are the same lawyers and advocates who were used by NUMSA against COSATU. Again, those who took the Union to courts have employed the services of a VIP security, the same company which is used by NUMSA. We once again ask as to who is paying them?
As for the court action, we are ready to present facts as we know them. We have evidence for accusation that has been made and we have evidence about all those who have played a role to destroy the Union in exchange for a promise to be given money which belongs to the workers.
Our issuing of this statement is to set the record to our members, our associates and the public at large lest hogwash lies peddled in the public domain mislead our people. We are deeply concerned that NUMSA`s disingenuous pronouncements fed the public by an equally partisan media is misleading many.
There are commentators and journalists doing much damage to the unity and hegemony of COSATU who make unfounded allegations and distort internal doings of COSATU as if they are COSATU insiders – as if they actually do participate in COSATU`s decision-making processes. If left unchecked, their assertions will break the unity of the organized working masses apart. As the Union leadership, we cherish the unity of workers and the unity of COSATU. Only a united workers` movement can make a meaningful contribution in the struggle to democratize the workplace and reverse the frontiers of the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
We welcome the decision of the COSATU CEC to expel NUMSA from the Federation. They are responsible for their expulsion. They deliberately invited their expulsion in order to gain public and membership sympathy. We will continue to defend the constitution and policies of COSATU including its leadership with everything we have.
Imagine the kind of a federation COSATU would turn out to be if it brought together industry-based trade unions and one union which has a right to straddle across fifteen other industries that are already covered by the scopes of member-Affiliates!
As the CEPPWAWU leadership we are bracing ourselves for an open war of influence on the members with NUMSA. We commit to the call of COSATU to reach out to members in their different structures and formations to explain the CEC decision and guard that they should not be swayed by distracting stories. COSATU policies of strong militancy, political independence as well as its stance against Labour Brokering and e-tolling remain unchanged to this day. Our commitment to COSATU too should remain unchanged.
We call on COSATU to fast-track the decision to admit into the ranks of the federation the more than three new unions which have submitted their application. We commit to go out and spur none of our energies to strengthen our own Union as part of the process of defending COSATU.
Our members know where they stand and why are they are not members of any other Affiliate or federation. They will continue to love and defend COSATU! We, together with the members we lead, pledge our loyalty to COSATU as well as to continue to respect the decisions of our constitutional structures including the CEC.
Phambili nge COSATU, Phambili!!!
Issued by CEPPWAWU Head Office
Contact: Cde Simon Mofokeng, General Secretary (see letterhead for contacts)
POPCRU on NUMSA`s expulsion from COSATU
17 November 2014
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is a public sector union organising 158 000 workers in the South African Police Service, Correctional Services and Traffic components. We are proudly affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions and for the past nineteen years we have been together with others responsible for the growth of the federation into the giant movement it is today. POPCRU is a majority union in the security sector and continues to grow in leaps and bounds. This, we deem as confidence by our members and those who join us every day in our capacity and ability to protect their needs and ensure better working conditions for all. Our primary mandate is exactly that, to see to it that our members’ quality of life improves and that their working conditions are according to internationally conferred conducive standards.
It is therefore only normal that we should be worried about the current state of COSATU, however more so about the misconstrued information that is being peddled into the public discourse through the media by NUMSA along with unions of its ilk.
We have watched in silence as our name was dragged through the mud. Due to our respect towards a mandate passed by our members that we should abide by the rules and principles of the federation, we have been silent on matters many deemed important for us to respond to. In their post CEC press conference, the Metalworkers Union stated that POPCRU had spoken against the COSATU campaign on e-tolls. We need to correct this lie by stating what was resolved in an October NEC of POPCRU. The organisation was against the form of protest used by COSATU which involved actions which entailed criminality and NOT the campaign against the e-tolls. We are fully bound by the federation’s policy position on this matter. We were concerned with the call on citizens to resort to anarchy in registering their discontent with the user-pay model of the improved highways. POPCRU expressed at the time a concern, as we believed the call would be deemed as encouragement by those who want to perpetuate criminality through protests.
We raise our voice today, seeing that all processes have been concluded up to this point on the issues at hand. And we wish to state that we supported for the expulsion of NUMSA from the federation for violating the federation’s policy positions and principles. This, as we once again carried our mandate given by the union’s 158 000 members in the past and most recently at our Central Executive Committee 02 – 04 November 2014 in Limpopo mandated us to call for NUMSA’s expulsion. At the core of this decision is the fact that NUMSA has blatantly violated the COSATU constitution and its policies. The federations’ constitution is very clear on what should happen to affiliates who commit such desecrations. We grew tired of the incessant insults hurled towards us and the COSATU leadership by a fellow affiliate.
Our members further expressed their disgust at being associated with this union which made clear its intentions to break away from COSATU and form a structure which would pursue principles opposed to those of the federation. They therefore concluded that if NUMSA could not change its stance, it should leave voluntarily, otherwise we should bravely vote its expulsion in favour of a united COSATU which speaks with one voice. We could not watch as an affiliate made a mockery of the federation with the belief that they would be protected by their majority status. POPCRU is confident that COSATU has not lost 350 000 plus members who are carried by the NUMSA banner because it will remain a home for all progressive workers of this country despite their affiliation to the now expelled NUMSA.
The federation had been dragged to court, in the process we have been attacked and called names and we see no reason to continue on this repulsive path. It would be easier to rebuild the federation with those who advocated its survival and unity than fighting off dissent from within. POPCRU and its members, understand the magnitude of the decision to expel NUMSA. We are however comfortable in the knowledge that we have done all within our power to remedy the situation without resorting to extreme measures, but we have failed dismally in the face of strengthened attacks on COSATU by the NUMSA leadership. We also want to use this opportunity to appeal to the NUMSA leadership, that not all is lost, should they realign their principles with those of the federation, and the door will be swiftly opened for their return to the fold. There’s always room for change and we are of the view that if the NUMSA leadership truly value unity and the survival of the federation, then they can assist everybody by abiding by the COSATU Constitution and reclaiming their place within the federation.
POPCRU is an affiliate of COSATU, thus unashamedly members and supporters of the African National Congress and the SACP. Our alliance in the tri-partite alliance and co-operation is something we hold dear to our hearts because none of us would be here today, enjoying the right to union affiliation, had it not been for the ANC government. We are also aware of our role in the need to protect the movement as a whole in the face of direct attacks from those who deem themselves and nobody else able to lead the federation successfully.
NUMSA has made several statements regarding the ANC led government and its programmes, specifically the NDP. We respect the right to self-determination of the former COSATU union. There are processes which are set out, including discussion forums such as the Alliance Summit, which provide all involved to present their position on a variety of issues, and NUMSA had such an opportunity. If then failure to convince the majority leads to disassociation, we should have been wary of NUMSA a long time ago.
It is proven beyond doubt that the union which is now expelled from the federation has always sought to distinguish itself as an entity outside the prescripts of the federation. Their resolve to deliberately misinterpret resolutions of COSATU is indicative of a union destined for a different direction than that of the collective. The following are examples of such tendencies:
- NUMSA’s call on COSATU to break away from the alliance.
- The decision to establish a new United Front
- Side by Side with the establishment of the new United Front, NUMSA will explore the establishment of a Movement for Socialism as the working class needs a political organisation committed to its policies and actions to the establishment of a socialist South Africa.
All this surfaces whilst the federation held a firm view that amongst other things, our policies must be underpinned by our ideological vision of a socialist society in deepening the relationship with the SACP, COSATU should provide resources that will help strengthen the SACP and transform it into a formidable force capable of meeting challenges and leading the struggle for socialism. And that COSATU should further establish party units in workplaces and strengthen the SACP. In light of these resolutions by the federation, we see no need for NUMSA to have undertaken any of the resolutions as they seek to achieve a mandate parallel to the work COSATU has begun in striving for a socialist South Africa.
All of us are governed by democratic centralism. This concept is applicable all the time, when you win and when you lose. When during the COSATU 11th congress POPCRU failed to convince delegates to vote along with us on a motion to go to the polls for a new leadership, we humbly accepted the decision of the majority which is binding to all affiliates. This is how we expected any other affiliate to behave. Hence we are shocked by the decision of the 7 fellow affiliates who took to the media to announce they would not be taking part in COSATU meetings. We deem this behaviour as immature and unprogressive, as it is similar to rants of a child who cannot get their own way. During these testing times, we appeal to these affiliates to exercise discipline and hold dear the values which have governed this giant federation for decades.
All affiliates were present in the Special Central Executive Committee of 07 November 2014 and witnessed democracy at play. We are therefore very shocked they are contesting a decision which they were party to in the public discourse. This also includes the General Secretary of the federation who has taken it upon himself to publicly distance himself from the decision of the federation, which he also is part of and is supposed to uphold. POPCRU has long wondered about the General Secretary’s motives and loyalty to the federation since his office is charged with the responsibility of implementing the resolutions of the federation. He appears to be acting contrary to these decisions, with his recent letter pointing to that fact. He cannot act as an individual and remove himself from the collective COSATU leadership as he pleases if he is indeed interested in the unity of the federation.
On the questions surrounding the presence of the 2nd Deputy President of COSATU within the federation despite her disaffiliation to NUMSA, we would like to put it on record that Zingiswa Losi is an elected POPCRU shop steward serving as a chairperson under Thaba Tshwane Local. She was elected shortly after her appointment in the South African Police Service where she took a vow to serve and protect the citizens of this country. She occupied this role following her resignation from her previous employment at Ford.
We are resolute that the decision to rid the federation of NUMSA is a building block to a COSATU that speaks with one voice when a decision is taken for the benefit of all workers in the country and abroad. We also agree with the COSATU leadership that indeed the unity of the federation is the ultimate price and we are willing to do all in our power to achieve this.
Issued by POPCRU 14 November 2014
For more information contact;
Nkosinathi Theledi
POPCRU General Secretary
Cell: 0825677803
- See more at: http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=9750#sthash.WA2Gfk8a.dpuf
Press statement following successful mass meeting of shop stewards and members from the seven unions plus NUMSA
17 November 2014
The seven unions (FAWU, SACCAWU, PAWUSA, SASAWU, CWU, DENOSA and SAFPU) plus NUMSA convened a joint meeting of shop stewards and members, attended by 2 200 participants, at the City Hall on Sunday (16th November 2014) having started at 10h30 and scheduled to end at 14h30 to report on the crises ravaging COSATU.
The mass meeting was addressed by the General Secretaries of FAWU and CWU, respectively Katishi Masemola and Aubrey Tshabalala, before a key-note address by the President of NUMSA, Andrew Chirwa.
Katishi Masemola indicated that there cannot be a united COSATU without NUMSA and there cannot be unity without others and that a united COSATU is a first prize and the only prize hoping that the basis for such a united federation will be the implementation of the 2012 COSATU National Congress Resolutions.
Katishi reflected that challenges in the federation, with NUMSA expelled, means the working class will be the loser and those gaining will be Capital as it intensifies ‘class terror’ (super-exploitation, be it through youth wage subsidy and labour broking or other ways) and the State as it aggressively pursues neoliberal policy trajectory, with National Development Plan (NDP) as its apex, all against the workers, the poor and entire working class.
Aubrey Tshabalala indicated that the rationale discussions and robust debates have been replaced by ‘Lets Vote’ and voting is now happening on every issue, including on the adoption of agenda and approval of credentials among others. This, he said, let to NUMSA expelled without substantive debates on the content of a 59-page submission delivered over three hours.
Aubrey further insisted that the struggle of the 8 unions plus NUMSA is about reclaiming COSATU back to its rightful owners, which are workers and not the 33 individual leaders, many without a mandate to expel NUMSA.
The NUMSA President explained the NUMSA Resolutions and took the meeting through the rationale behind their resolutions of their Special Congress in December 2013 and on the five charges that it was charged for as a result of the court outcome forcing this clarity.
Chirwa took the meeting through the five charges and why these are frivolous and how the defective procedure has led to a botched process in that no guilty verdict was arrived at and the sanction was based on preconceived ‘surgical removal’ sentiments held by some affiliates before the Special COSATU CEC in which this comprehensive submission was made.
NUMSA President explained that the implementation of the Freedom Charter is their uncompromising clarion call and the basis for their Resolutions. A Freedom Charter that must move South Africa from the dire situation facing the working class to a truly better life to workers and the poor than an enrichment of the few, no matter how black they may be.
He explained that the National Development Plan (NDP) does not represent this vision of the Freedom Charter but it is neoliberal program that will trap the working class in treble-crises of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Participants were allowed to ask questions/clarifications and to make comments and the overwhelming majority was in full support for the immediate re-admission of NUMSA into the federation and encouraged the seven affiliates to keep fighting for such a noble cause.
The underlying key theme in virtually all the questions asked by workers was whether we stay in COSATU or we form another federation. The answers from leaders and from other participants, which ultimately became decisions, were that we will fight for our COSATU that has NUMSA and return that COSATU to its rightful owners, the workers, with Special National Congress as a platform to achieve those goals.
The press statement was issued at 14h00 when workers were still engaged in discussions and debates on the state of their federation.
For more details please contact the SACCAWU and FAWU Free State/Northern Cape Regional Secretaries, respectively Jerry Mmoneri on 082 336 9298 and Mayoyo Mngomezulu on 082 440 4039
Issued by
KATISHI MASEMOLA
FAWU General Secretary
Obo the Seven Unions
- See more at: http://www.cosatu.org.za/show.php?ID=9749#sthash.43cF3uxv.dpuf
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