 Cosatu fails leadership, economic policy tests Review conference ducks difficult issues such as ANC succession THE Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu’s) four-day review gathering ended with a whimper yesterday, with its 800 delegates failing to take a stand on key political issues. The gathering opened on Monday with a promise to provide clear direction on the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) leadership succession, but instead postponed crucial debates to future meetings. As a result of the central committee’s failure to give guidance on key policy issues, Cosatu affiliates will continue expressing conflicting positions on contentious matters like the call to nationalise the country’s mines. Powerful Cosatu affiliates such as the National Union of Mineworkers and the National Metalworkers of SA differ on the issue of nationalisation. While Cosatu leaders yesterday blamed staff for garbled reports from breakaway commissions for the failure to pass key resolutions, this could be an indication of divisions within the labour federation. Reports from two commissions were rejected — suggesting disagreements during discussions on leadership and other policy issues. Documents from commissions that discussed socioeconomic issues and crucial leadership questions were thrown out of yesterday’s report-back session. They would be discussed at Cosatu’s central committee meetings and its elective congress to be held in September next year. Issues discussed in commissions included the question of whether the national democratic revolution — the ANC’s guiding philosophy — was on track. Reports on that debate, and one on whether the ANC should have an open leadership contest, were rejected at the gathering’s plenary. A preliminary report on Cosatu’s economic policy flatly rejected the government’s New Growth Path, but was replaced with a document that welcomed it as a start on which to build. Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said at a news conference after the gathering yesterday that the "content and style" of the two reports were a problem. Mr Vavi sought to downplay the rejection of the commission reports. He said Cosatu had a solid stand on key policy matters taken at previous meetings. This included its views on the New Growth Path. He said Cosatu had initially welcomed the Growth Path and called for it to be tweaked. He said it "falls short of being a document we can declare as being a comprehensive response" to the economy’s structural problems. Mr Vavi said it was not a "document we can rely upon. We are united around that position." He said the federation was not backing off from the tough talk and criticism of the government on the first day of the gathering. Cosatu would go ahead with its programmes — including launching Corruption Watch, an independent body to investigate corruption tipoffs. It would be launched in December and pass on information to prosecutors. Mr Vavi said the federation was opposed to the opening of the succession debate in the ANC . Early talk would divide the tripartite alliance, he said. Discussing the ANC leadership would get in the way of dealing with the problem of poverty in SA, he said. The ANC succession debate had the potential to discredit the ANC in the eyes of the voters, who could be turned off from voting for the party in the 2014 elections, Mr Vavi claimed. National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Frans Baleni said yesterday it was not a crisis that there were no resolutions. "It is not the end of the world." He said the meeting had time constraints which had hampered sorting out key differences. National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim said affiliates had different views, which he considered healthy. However, the federation decided to stick with the ANC alliance despite its criticism of its functioning and especially the weak leadership of President Jacob Zuma. After discussing options for the federation — whose membership has grown from 1,8-million to 2- million — it decided an alliance with the ANC was still the best option. A document presented for discussion by members gave them four scenarios to discuss, including opting out of the alliance and for Cosatu to establish itself as a political party. Mr Vavi said this week that a survey found most members would not back Cosatu as a political party. [email protected] 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] . |
