Metal workers union Numsa is in talks with Afrikaner trade union Solidarity to form a new federation to rival Cosatu.
Numsa bosses yesterday announced the union was formally breaking ties with Cosatu and would no longer appeal its expulsion at the federation’s congress later this month.
The union, which dumped the ANC and SACP in December 2013, would also drop its court challenge to go back to Cosatu.
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said his union was also speaking to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, federations Nactu and Fedusa, to form a federation.
“We have got a bulk of workers in this country who are completely not organised.We have taken a firm view that these are the workers we are targeting. We are going to champion a recruitment programme,” he said.
The chief executive of Solidarity Dirk Hermann confirmed that his union had met with Numsa more than once to discuss starting a new federation. “We have had more than one informal discussion on this.
“But we haven’t made any commitment,” he said.
The two unions – which cater for traditionally different constituencies – had a lot in common, Hermaan said, adding that they were “open” to talks of a new federation to unite workers.
Numsa courts solidarity
Numsa bosses yesterday announced the union was formally breaking ties with Cosatu and would no longer appeal its expulsion at the federation’s congress later this month.
The union, which dumped the ANC and SACP in December 2013, would also drop its court challenge to go back to Cosatu.
Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said his union was also speaking to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, federations Nactu and Fedusa, to form a federation.
“We have got a bulk of workers in this country who are completely not organised.We have taken a firm view that these are the workers we are targeting. We are going to champion a recruitment programme,” he said.
The chief executive of Solidarity Dirk Hermann confirmed that his union had met with Numsa more than once to discuss starting a new federation. “We have had more than one informal discussion on this.
“But we haven’t made any commitment,” he said.
The two unions – which cater for traditionally different constituencies – had a lot in common, Hermaan said, adding that they were “open” to talks of a new federation to unite workers.
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