LABOUR UPHEAVAL
Zwelinzima Vavi takes charge at Saftu
The federation and its unions are set to launch a recruitment campaign to target 76% of the workforce that is currently unorganised
Zwelinzima Vavi has been named the first general secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions. The federation, with a membership of nearly 700,000, launched at the weekend and surpassed the Federation of South African Trade Unions and the National Council of Trade Unions as the second-largest union federation in the country, rivalling ANC-ally Cosatu. Vavi was expelled from Cosatu in 2014 after a protracted factional battle in the federation linked to ANC succession politics. He has since been hard at work, laying the groundwork for the new federation, along with a steering committee. In his closing address on Sunday, Vavi told workers that they should regard any worker unionised under the Cosatu banner as "unorganised". The tone for the gathering was set on Friday by a founding Cosatu leader, Jay Naidoo. The federation and its unions are set to launch a recruitment campaign to target 76% of the workforce that is currently unorganised. The federation was set to be indep...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.