By Dane McDonald
Cape Town – If asked, he would lead an independent trade union movement, former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said on Thursday evening.
Unions loyal to Vavi have agreed to set up a steering committee to organise a workers summit to form a rival to Cosatu.
“We continue to open the door to all the people who aspire for independent unions, democratic worker control, and fighting militantly,” Vavi told Fin24.
Speaking at the Alternative Information Development Centre in the build up to a national march against corruption on September 30 2015, Vavi said South Africa was experiencing untold levels of unemployment, poverty, inequality, and corruption.
He described the formation of an independent trade union as a ‘new political home’.
According to Vavi the new union would operate differently to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
“I am no messiah of any working class, the working class will decide on its own … the struggles on the ground will determine where the political home should be,” Vavi said.
In March, Cosatu dismissed Vavi and accused him of several violations including sowing division in the federation and diverting resources to the National Union of Metalworkers.- Fin24
