New labour federation on the cards

06/08/2010 Irvin Jim General Secretary of NUMSA during a media statement on the planned Auto Industry strike action held at their offices in JHB. (564) Photo: Leon Nicholas

06/08/2010 Irvin Jim General Secretary of NUMSA during a media statement on the planned Auto Industry strike action held at their offices in JHB. (564) Photo: Leon Nicholas

Published May 1, 2016

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Johannesburg - Thousands of delegates attending a workers’ summit have agreed to cement their commitment to forming a labour federation and will sign a declaration at their May Day rally in Tembisa on Sunday.

While there are still many issues that need to be ironed out, National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim said it had to be launched by next year at the latest.

“We want to suggest that 2017 must be the year where we have a new federation with a name and a logo. It could be before the 1 of May or in December,” said Jim.

He also encouraged the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the mainly white union Solidarity to join the new organisation.

“We want to say to Amcu and Solidarity that their speed to taking a decision on this discussion is welcome. Amcu is militant and we believe it belongs in the new federation.”

Amcu general secretary Jeff Mphahele said the union was seriously discussing whether they should join the new organisation and said that perhaps accepting a new labour federation was the way to go.

Most delegates agreed on all principles for the federation which include it being worker controlled, democratic, non-racial and non-sexism, financially self-sufficient, being socially orientated and creating a militant and fighting working class organisation.

Anti-imperialist and international solidarity are also mentioned in the list of principles for the new federation.

Delegates mentioned the importance of being dedicated to winning the full fruits of the labour for workers and the boarder working class.

For now, the federation will not be aligned to any political party.

Labour Bureau

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