Cosatu denies being snubbed by five unions

The embattled trade union federation blamed the media for spreading "lies".

"Cosatu puts on record that the federation’s special central executive committee under way at Cosatu House, Braamfontein is attended by 14 affiliated trade unions, with the exception of only three unions," the federation's national spokesperson Norman Mampane said.

"The only three absent unions are the South African Football Players Union (Safpu), the South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu), and the Food and Allied Workers’ Union (Fawu), whose standing in terms of the constitution is still a subject of debate."

A group of seven Cosatu affiliate unions has continued to throw its support behind National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and axed Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, calling on both to be accepted back into the fold.

On Monday, Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola said five of the seven unions would not attend the meeting.

The unions were: Fawu, Safpu , Sasawu, Pawusa and SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu).

The Communication Workers Union and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA confirmed they were attending the special CEC.

However, Mampane on Tuesday said Pawusa was attending the meeting.

Other unions were not up to date with their subscriptions to Cosatu.

"Cosatu urges all trade unions affiliated to the federation to attend constitutional meetings and build vibrant, strong and revolutionary workers’ formations," he said.

"The strength of Cosatu is the sum of all the strength of all affiliates across all sectors of the economy, including metalworkers."

 

Author: News24

NewsWire ID: 4180

File photo: Gallo images