Discussions on whether or not labour unions nonetheless have a task to play in South Africa have been gaining prominence for fairly a while now. Issues of infighting and management battles in among the nation’s trade union federations have additionally led to questions relating to the continued relevance of trade unions and whether or not or not a few of them are nonetheless for the rights of staff. Workers alternatively, have needed to cope with office points which seem won’t ever be resolved, together with the continually worsening financial scenario whereas wage will increase look like a thorny challenge with no winners. One…

Discussions on whether or not labour unions nonetheless have a task to play in South Africa have been gaining prominence for fairly a while now.

Issues of infighting and management battles in among the nation’s trade union federations have additionally led to questions relating to the continued relevance of trade unions and whether or not or not a few of them are nonetheless for the rights of staff.

Workers alternatively, have needed to cope with office points which seem won’t ever be resolved, together with the continually worsening financial scenario whereas wage will increase look like a thorny challenge with no winners.

One instance of the latter was when public sector unions dragged authorities to court docket, accusing the employer of reneging on some facets of the 2018 wage settlement.

Also Read: Court dismissal of public sector wage hike may come again to chunk SA’s residents

Government applied wage will increase for public servants in 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, however couldn’t accomplish that in 2020/2021 on account of lack of funding.

The unions stated the federal government’s determination to not honour the ultimate leg of its three-year wage settlement in 2020 jeopardised the bargaining course of, because the state may not be relied upon to fulfil contractual obligations it had entered into.

The Labour Court had beforehand dominated in favour of presidency in December 2020.

ALSO READ: Unions defeated as ConCourt guidelines for presidency on wage settlement

Other points staff face embody unfair dismissals, and fewer than acceptable working situations.

But whereas staff proceed to wrestle, among the nation’s greatest trade union federations are going through inside battles for energy and positions, together with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU).

Unions have a task however they’re simply not taking part in it effectively

Labour skilled Terry Bell is of the view that regardless of all of the challenges unions have been confronted with, they nonetheless have an necessary position to play in society.

“So long as there exists a system that allows, in fact demands the exploitation of the many to the profit of the few, there will always be a need for the sellers of labour to organise to protect themselves and to fight for decent wages and working conditions,” he stated.

However, Bell expressed concern over how among the unions have been operating their affairs.

“Unfortunately, too many have develop into companies in their personal rights with funding firms, typically operated by self-serving bureaucracies.

Bell harassed that in such instances, union leaders ought to earn not more than the very best paid strange member, including that they (unions) stay related however a lot of them had higher get their acts together or they may go underneath.

“In principle, unions are intensely democratic, with the power vested in the members and should be transparent in their dealings and with elected leaders wholly accountable to and recallable by the members,” he stated.

Tensions have been brewing for a while now inside the ranks of NUMSA, with experiences suggesting that General Secretary Irvin Jim and his relationship with Numsa Investment Company (NIC) CEO Khandani Msibi is on the coronary heart of rising discontent on the union.

3Sixty Life, which is owned by the NIC via 3Sixty Global Solutions Group, underwrites life and funeral insurance coverage insurance policies primarily for Doves and Numsa members. 

The union in impact markets insurance policies to its members, and acts because the policyholder for a obligatory Numsa funeral scheme.

ALSO READ: Political tensions brewing round Numsa Investment Company, Irvin Jim

These allegations of union bosses dwelling it up whereas staff’ rights are poorly represented have left a bitter style within the mouth of many.

Fighting for a chunk of diminishing membership numbers

One of the opposite greatest challenges going through unions, is that of declining membership. Bell stated the numbers have been falling throughout the board.

“It is tough to get an correct image, as a result of, though the unions are speculated to yearly provide the registrar of trade unions with audited figures, it appears the system on the registrar has issues in the meanwhile, and lots of the unions are approach behind in supplying knowledge. 

“Zwelinzima Vavi is on record saying that union membership has severely declined over the past decade,” Bell added.

Another labour skilled, Andrew Levy echoed Bell’s sentiments relating to the relevance of trade unions on this nation however questioned the dedication of among the union leaders.

According to Levy, many of the unions within the nation have been experiencing huge declines in membership.

“There are different contributory factors that led to these declines in membership and they range from many people who have lost their jobs as a result of the tough economic conditions and also workers, particularly in the private sector not wanting to take part in industrial action fearing job losses,” he stated.

Levy stated the infightings in trade union federations like COSATU just a few years in the past in addition to in SAFTU in latest occasions, are additionally exacerbating the tough scenario they (unions) discover themselves in.

“Some of these unions leaders who are fighting each other, are just fighting over an already diminished membership,” Levy stated.

Unity amongst unions desperately wanted

Plenty of calls, particularly the Marikana Massacre have been made for trade unions to affix forces, for the good thing about staff.

At some level, media briefings had been held the place leaders from totally different federations had been current, together with Vavi and the Association of the Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)‘s Joseph Mathunjwa.

Cosatu has come underneath a number of criticism, together with being accused of being in mattress with the ANC and lobbying for political favour on the expense of staff’ rights.

Just just like the SACP, Cosatu has additionally on a number of events threatened to withdraw its help for the ANC, however that has not occurred.

With the more and more tough financial situations, Levy can also be of the view that the time has come for all unions to place their variations apart and current a united entrance to tackle staff’ challenges.

“If ever there was a time for all unions to unite for one widespread objective, then it’s now.

“They (unions) must put aside all their differences, whether you are a socialist or capitalist, it doesn’t matter, what matters is the workers,” Levy added.

How did we get right here?

Cosatu’s management battles began round 2014, when the federation’s former normal secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi was expelled for bringing the federation into disrepute, and for allegedly having an affair with a junior worker.

Vavi’s suspension on the time, was not welcomed by some unions affiliated to Cosatu, chief amongst these being the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA).

It was throughout this time that NUMSA turned very vocal about Vavi’s challenge in addition to the political mess which was the governing ANC on the time.

The ANC leads the tri-partite alliance which consists of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO).

Numsa, led by Irvin Jim, went so far as demanding that Cosatu withdraw its help for the ANC, notably throughout elections, in a transfer which didn’t sit effectively with the mom physique COSATU, ultimately resulting in Numsa’s expulsion from the federation.

Preceding the Cosatu, Numsa and Vavi drama was the 2012 Marikana Massacre, the place 34 mineworkers had been brutally killed by the police throughout a wildcat strike on the Lonmin Platinum mine, simply exterior Rustenburg.

It was this strike which noticed one other Cosatu affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), lose 1000’s of members to rival union on the platinum belt, Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).

Amcu was and continues to be led by the outspoken Joseph Mathunjwa who was as soon as chairperson of an area department of NUM earlier than being expelled in 1999.

Just like Vavi, Mathunjwa was expelled for carry the union into disrepute and partly for clashing with NUM’s former normal secretary and present ANC nationwide chairperson, Gwede Mantashe.

Vavi versus Jim

New trade union federation on the block SAFTU was fashioned in 2017, and consists of a variety of associates.

However, the connection between Vavi, normal secretary of Saftu and Numsa’s Irvin Jim has since gone bitter.

Also Read: Numsa infighting threatens to spill over in umbrella Saftu

The tensions between the 2 has led to Numsa threatening to go away the federation this 12 months.

Numsa, in the meantime can also be presently going through it’s personal inside battles with its deliberate congress having been halted and ordered by the Labour Court to solely convene the congress as soon as it has complied with its personal constitutions.

The court docket discovered that the suspension of the union’s second deputy president Ruth Ntlokose was invalid, together with NUMSA’s determination to droop greater than 20 of its members in numerous areas.

The union determined, nevertheless, to disregard this interdict and proceed with the congress anyway.