By Amy Musgrave
The Congress of South African Trade Unions kicks off its national congress today with a leadership battle.
Sources in its affiliates have told Inside Politics that changes are expected in the top three of Cosatu’s National Office Bearers (NOBs).
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the SA Municipal Workers want Mike Shingange, who is the first deputy president, to replace Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi. The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union has fielded its deputy president, Mabutho Cele, to replace Shingange.
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NUM wants Solly Phetoe to continue as general secretary, but the public sectors unions are backing Losi for the position.
The jostling for positions comes at a time when Cosatu needs to decide whether it will back the ANC or the SACP for the November local government elections. Cosatu leaders have pleaded with affiliates for the congress not to be booged down by leadership and election tensions.
This is Cosatu’s 15th national congress. A total of 16 affiliated unions will be represented at the four-day meeting, and 1820 delegates will attend.
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The congress will focus on rebuilding working power (it is 500,000 off its two million membership target), defending decent work, how to unionise in the changing world of work, how to fight economic policies that shift the burden of crisis onto workers, and strengtheningworking-class unity and international solidarity.
There are six NOBs in Cosatu. The outcome of the votes will be announced to Thursday.
