THE Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) has been admitted into the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) fold.
The move effectively quashes any possibility of Cosatu’s expelled largest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), returning to the federation fold.
The decision to admit Limusa as a Cosatu affiliate was taken at a special central executive meeting on Monday.
Limusa was formed by former Numsa president Cedric Gina who did not agree with Numsa’s decision not to campaign for the African National Congress (ANC) in the 2014 polls.
Numsa was expelled from Cosatu in November last year for expanding its scope and violating a founding Cosatu principle of "one union, one sector". Its political posture against the ANC had also angered party loyalists in the federation.
Mr Gina formed Limusa ostensibly to replace Numsa in the Cosatu fold. It will now compete with Numsa on the shop floor in the automotive and metals sectors — and it now has the backing of Cosatu. The federation, however, has been weakened by nearly three years of infighting.
It remains to be seen whether it will massively upset the 340,000 strong Numsa, but it is likely to intensify union rivalry in sectors traditionally monopolised by Numsa.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi had fought against admitting Limusa to the Cosatu fold as the union had not yet held an elective conference and had only some 1,600 members.
National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa president Cedric Gina. Picture: ARNOLD PRONTO
THE Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) has been admitted into the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) fold.
The move effectively quashes any possibility of Cosatu’s expelled largest affiliate, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), returning to the federation fold.
The decision to admit Limusa as a Cosatu affiliate was taken at a special central executive meeting on Monday.
Limusa was formed by former Numsa president Cedric Gina who did not agree with Numsa’s decision not to campaign for the African National Congress (ANC) in the 2014 polls.
Numsa was expelled from Cosatu in November last year for expanding its scope and violating a founding Cosatu principle of "one union, one sector". Its political posture against the ANC had also angered party loyalists in the federation.
Mr Gina formed Limusa ostensibly to replace Numsa in the Cosatu fold. It will now compete with Numsa on the shop floor in the automotive and metals sectors — and it now has the backing of Cosatu. The federation, however, has been weakened by nearly three years of infighting.
It remains to be seen whether it will massively upset the 340,000 strong Numsa, but it is likely to intensify union rivalry in sectors traditionally monopolised by Numsa.
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi had fought against admitting Limusa to the Cosatu fold as the union had not yet held an elective conference and had only some 1,600 members.
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