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