New federation to reach out to unrepresented workers

The steering committee of a new labour federation, of which Zwelinzima Vavi is the convenor, says it will reach out to SA’s 8 million non-unionised workers.

Johannesburg - The steering committee of a new labour federation says it will reach out to 184 unions as part of its mass recruitment campaign.

The committee told reporters in Johannesburg on Thursday that the campaign would ongoing and involve mass organisation at workplace and community levels.

Axed Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who is the convener of the steering committee for the new federation said: “At present just under eight million workers which amount to 76% in the formal sector alone are not represented as a union. This must change.”

He also said that the 29 unions which participated in a recent Workers Summit were confident that a strong, democratic and independent trade union federation could attract those workers into unions.

“Workers need to feel that the union they join is there first and foremost to protect their interests, and to make sure they are protected against exploitation and bullying of employers.”

The campaign would avoid being mired in disputes over which union workers should belong to, but would work in a complementary manner and focus on the needs of workers. The campaign would also contain a strong educational element for workers and the public at large.

“We will be deploying the successful tactics that have been pioneered in other countries, by workers, students, artists and by communities including occupations, sit-ins and peoples assemblies.”

A key focus would be demanding a living wage policy which abolished the apartheid wage structure and replaced it with a more equitable wage structure.

The federation will be launched by next year at the latest.

Labour Bureau