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NUMSA expulsion cannot be reversed, says Dlamini Natasha Marrian, Business Day, Johannesburg, 9 December 2014 Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) president Sdumo Dlamini on Monday made it clear the expulsion of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (NUMSA) could not be reversed through an ongoing intervention by the African National Congress (ANC) to foster unity in the federation. The ANC intervened for a second time in the COSATU battle last month after the federation expelled NUMSA, its largest affiliate, and as it was on the brink of disciplining general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Mr Dlamini said on Monday that COSATU decisions, its founding principles and its constitution were not up for negotiation - even by the ongoing facilitated process - and would be adhered to. This means that attempts by the ANC to foster unity in the federation are likely to founder, with seven unions refusing to take part in the political process unless NUMSA is returned to the COSATU fold. Mr Dlamini told a meeting of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union central executive committee on Monday that COSATU had entered the political process based on the understanding that there was a central executive committee decision to expel NUMSA. "We won't allow the interpretation of policies to suit one affiliate. we won't be forced into something that cannot be done," he said. "We are entering the process with the understanding that there is no structure called the seven unions." Mr Dlamini said COSATU was not confused about the aim of the political process, which was to bring about unity in the federation "underpinned by its founding policies and its constitution". "We are going to participate in the process. but we are not going there to beg. we are asserting the authority of the federation and its policies." He urged NUMSA to spend its money on convening another special national congress to reverse the "wrong decisions" it had taken to expand its scope, and to stop poaching its members, which were the main reasons put forward for the union's expulsion. Mr Dlamini questioned the motives of the new union in the public sector formed by former South African Democratic Teachers Union president Thobile Ntola. It was formed by those expelled for being corrupt. "Why would workers place their trust in leaders who are corrupt?" he asked. Mr Dlamini also weighed in on public-sector wage negotiations to continue in earnest early next year. "When you engage with the employer, do not be confused by the fact that your employer is your democratically elected government; they expect you to compromise but you carry the mandate of members," he said. Mr Dlamini urged unions to take their members into account when they made compromises at the negotiating table. From: http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/labour/2014/12/09/NUMSA-expulsion-cannot-be -reversed-says-dlamini -- -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
