BusinessLive reports that the new trade union federation, which has been championed by former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, has been registered officially with the Department of Labour.
The new organisation could rival or even be bigger than the ANC’s alliance partner Cosatu, as it claims that more than 40 unions have expressed interest in signing up. It was registered on Friday under the name the South African Federation of Trade Unions. Registration will allow the federation to start operating and recruiting membership. Vavi said 21 unions had received mandates and budgets to support the new federation and had officially signed up, while another 18 unions still needed a mandate from their members before joining. Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said they did not have any view on the new federation. "We have to respect their right to do so. Preferably we would have wanted a situation where workers unite, but we can’t stop anyone from forming anything."
- Read this report by Genevieve Quintal in full at BusinessLive
- See too, Vavi not looking to settle political scores with his new union federation, at eNCA
- And also, Union federations riddled by factionalism, says Vavi, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page