Fin24 reports that the rifts between Cosatu's public sector unions have deepened, with the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) dragging Cosatu and all of its affiliates to court over the labour federation's resolution to back the SA Communist Party (SACP) in elections.
In papers filed in March, Sadtu asked the Labour Court to set aside Cosatu's 2022 congress resolution to support the SACP in elections because the tabling of the resolution did not follow constitutional procedure. Proposed congress resolutions must be circulated to affiliates 30 days before the congress to enable them to take mandated positions, but this was not done. Sadtu has also asked the court to set aside a resolution of the Cosatu central executive committee (CEC) in February, which similarly confirmed electoral support for the SACP. In that case, Sadtu claimed, it was outside the powers of the CEC to take a decision of such magnitude. Sadtu indicated that it was not averse to Cosatu taking such a decision, but it must be done correctly and in line with the federation's constitution. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the legal dispute would be discussed at the next CEC later this month, where it would be decided whether to oppose Sadtu in court or attempt to settle the dispute amicably. The dispute, which finds Cosatu's public sector unions on opposite sides of a divide, is the second in the past two months. Sadtu was also at odds with Nehawu and Popcru over public sector wage negotiations. While Sadtu and Fedusa affiliates signed the wage offer, Nehawu and Popcru did not and went on strike. While the striking unions did not win anything extra and were, in any event, bound by the collective agreement already signed by Sadtu and Fedusa unions, which constituted the majority, relationships within Cosatu were damaged. Sadtu was angry over the public insults hurled at it by Nehawu and Popcru, which were also distributed by Cosatu's head office, causing further anger and resentment.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
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