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"There is nothing wrong in sitting on boards as long as it is by workers' consent and you advance worker issues," the National Union of Metalworkers of SA official told the newspaper.
"You do not...play golf and braai with bosses while workers languish under the board you serve in."
National Union of Mineworkers' general secretary Frans Baleni, the current deputy chair of the Development Bank of SA (DBSA), reportedly received R366 300 for attending 10 of its meetings.
Several union bosses, including Baleni, suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, and Numsa president Cedric Gina reportedly sat on the boards of state entities including the DBSA, the Industrial Development Corporation, the SABC and various Setas.
Attending meetings
The Sunday Independent, citing the various entities' 2012/2013 annual reports, said Gina received R451 000 for attending 15 meetings of the DBSA board, while Vavi pocketed R16 300 for each meeting he attended.
Media Workers Association of SA general secretary Tuwani Gumani told the newspaper that sitting on the boards involved more than just attending the meetings.
"We deserve to be paid a lot more. Pay is miniscule and doesn't speak to the work we do."
The Sunday Independent reported that Gumani received R67 000 for the 11 meetings he attended for a Seta related to his industry.
