NUM statement on the so-called 9 affiliates.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) calls on the so-called 9 affiliates who held a press conference and the march to Cosatu headquarters this week that their behaviour is an indication that their energy is directed in the wrong place.
Their call for the unconditional and immediate reinstatement of Numsa coupled with their claim of Numsa unconstitutional dismissal is a clear indication of their misinterpretation of the Cosatu constitution. If they have read the Cosatu constitution correctly they will see that the constitution gives power to the CEC to dismiss or suspend an affiliate, therefore the decision could not be unconstitutional.
In fact, their call for the reinstatement of Numsa is unconstitutional because Cosatu constitution clearly states that if the CEC expels an affiliate it is only the National Congress that can change the decision. Their energy and attempt for reinstatement Numsa is totally unconstitutional and out of order.
Furthermore, the march to Cosatu headquarters yesterday and their memorandum with seven demands is quite disturbing because the accusations of the office bearers being factional and dividing the federation are unfounded.
The 9 affiliates are guilty of dividing their unions and the federation because there are a fraction of their membership within their unions and they drive a factional interest and not a structural organisation interest.
Many of these unions, their NEC's have taken a decision not to boycott Cosatu, for example, Fawu NEC has taken a decision not to boycott Cosatu, but individuals within Fawu are continuing in defiance of their NEC.
What they should be doing is to direct their energy in helping their respective unions in uniting and advancing the interests of their members before wanting to claim that they own the monopoly of interpreting and understanding the constitution of the federation.
The NUM furthermore calls on these splinters to respect their unions structures, internal democratic processes, their constitution and accept when their views are defeated in a democratic process.
Our class enemies are enjoying and celebrating the divisions in our affiliates which directly contribute to our members suffering the consequences of these factional and divisive misrepresentations of the facts and the constitution.
In his closing address to the ANC's critical 1969 Morogoro Conference, ANC President, OR Tambo said to a standing ovation: "Wage a relentless war against disrupters and defend the ANC...Be vigilant, comrades... Beware of the wedge driver, the man who creeps from ear to ear, carrying a bag full of wedges, driving them in between you and the next man, between a group and another, a man who goes round creating splits and divisions. Beware of the wedge-driver, comrades. Watch his poisonous tongue."
Cosatu members must be vigilant against these wedge-drivers. The lesson is to guard against becoming members of members but rather members of an organisation.
Statement issued by Peter Bailey: NUM Health and Safety Chairperson, February 27 2015
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