Publications
Partners
Cape Town - South Africa’s major trade union federation, Cosatu, is in a mess. But it is a mess of its own making, says Terry Bell in his latest labour wrap.
READ:
'Constitution out the window' - Vavi lawyer
Such a congress was called for nearly 15 months ago by 9 of Cosatu’s 19 affiliates. It is long overdue and the Cosatu executive now proposes effectively recommending the expulsion of the metalworkers’ union Numsa on Friday, making a messy matter even messier.
A national congress, called now, says Bell, could resolve once and for all the question of expulsions, the direction Cosatu should take and who should lead the federation. However, he adds that it should also deal with several other matters, the most important of which is union investment companies.
Watch
The ongoing and bitter row between the billionaire former union leaders, John Copelyn and Marcel Golding that involves the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union has brought this to the fore. Because Sactwu is the major shareholder in HCI [JSE:HCI], the company founded with union funds by Copelyn and Golding and which has investments in everything from hotels and casinos to coal mining, transport and IT.
READ:
Sactwu, HCI deny political ploy in e.tv boss saga
Golding cuts ties with HCI - as it happened
Scathing attack on e.tv chair as another exec quits
Hogan: Remgro kept in the dark on Golding
At the very least, says Bell, this blurring of the distinction between the interests of employers and employees - or labour and capital - is contradictory and confusing. And it brings to mind the opening line of a famous 1931 Kentucky mine workers’ song: “Which side are you on?”
This will be the focus of his next Inside Labour column.
- Fin24
Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.
* Add your voice to the big labour debate or simply ask Terry a labour question.
