Delegates arrive for Workers Summit

Suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is seen at the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's (Numsa) political school in Benoni in eastern Johannesburg on Tuesday, 17 September 2013, titled the Mbuyiselo Ngwenda Brigade. Ngwenda was Numsa's former general secretary.Vavi said he was speaking as a friend and neighbour of the late Ngwenda. Cosatu must remain an independent organisation whose leaders should not serve on the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC, Vavi said on Tuesday. Last month, Cosatu announced that Vavi had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to an affair he had with a junior employee.In July, the employee accused him of rape. He said he had an affair with her. The woman subsequently withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against him.Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi is seen at the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's (Numsa) political school in Benoni in eastern Johannesburg on Tuesday, 17 September 2013, titled the Mbuyiselo Ngwenda Brigade. Ngwenda was Numsa's former general secretary.Vavi said he was speaking as a friend and neighbour of the late Ngwenda. Cosatu must remain an independent organisation whose leaders should not serve on the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC, Vavi said on Tuesday. Last month, Cosatu announced that Vavi had been put on special leave pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing relating to an affair he had with a junior employee.In July, the employee accused him of rape. He said he had an affair with her. The woman subsequently withdrew a sexual harassment complaint against him.Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Published Apr 30, 2016

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Johannesburg - Unions have started arriving at a workers’ summit in Johannesburg which will discuss the formation of a new federation.

The meeting is being led by axed Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Vavi told reporters earlier this week that 50 unions would attend the meeting. However, by 11am on Saturday just over 20 unions had arrived.

Various union members have begun singing workers' struggle songs. #WorkersSummit @IOL @AmyMusgraveous pic.twitter.com/aGsn6piHmj

— Zintle Mahlati (@ZintleMahlati) April 30, 2016

The meeting was told by organisers the other unions were still on their way.

Organisers claim that the unions attending will represent over a million workers. Their aim is to forge unity of workers across different organisations and backgrounds, as well as their political and ideological differences, racial and historic differences.

The summit will also provide an opportunity to identify common concerns, principles and an approach towards a greater working class unity.

Delegates sang songs ahead of the meeting saying “the alliance is killing us” and “Zuma is killing us, he is taking work”.

Unions including such as Numsa, Nupsaw, Taswu, Sapu, NTM, Solidarity and Sascow are at the summit.

Labour Bureau

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