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Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday urged Cosatu to take a stand in court on affirmative action in the Western Cape's correctional services department (DCS).
"The Congress of SA Trade Unions is an important role-player in the Western Cape and its viewpoint must be heard by the court," Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said in a statement.
The union is supporting a group of white and coloured Western Cape DCS employees who claim, in a labour court action, to have been sidelined by affirmative action policies.
He said Cosatu Western Cape's stance that national racial demographics could not be applied in the Western Cape contradicted that of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), a Cosatu affiliate. Popcru said it supported the DCS's policy.
Hermann believed it would send a powerful message if Solidarity and Cosatu agreed in court that the government's approach to affirmative action, namely that the national racial demographics had to be reflected in every workplace, even on provincial and regional levels, was irrational and wrong.
The case was postponed in the Labour Court on May 3 for trial from July 29 to August 9.
Solidarity is representing Linda-Jean Fortuin, Christopher February, Andr Jonkers, Geo-nita Baartman, Pieter Davids, Derick Wehr, Jan Kotze, Desiree Merkeur, Deidre Jordaan and Teresa Abrahams.
They were recommended after interviews for various posts in the DCS, but due to the department's adherence to affirmative action policies, a black candidate who had come second or third in the selection processes was offered the post.
Some of the black candidates had already accepted other jobs, and the original candidates worked in acting positions.
Solidarity is arguing this policy of absolute racial representation is unfair, irrational and unlawful. It wants its members promoted, and the department's affirmative action plan declared unlawful.
According to Solidarity white and coloured candidates stood no chance of promotion in the Western Cape.
Comment was not immediately available from Cosatu's Western Cape spokesperson.
