'We'll leave nothing off the table‚' says Cosatu ahead of CEC meeting

27 February 2017 - 16:18 By Olebogeng Molatlhwa
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Labour federation Cosatu is expected to outline its stance on a number of key political developments as it prepares to wade through a year of crucial conferences within the tripartite alliance.

These include the ANC’s policy conference in June‚ the SA Communist Party congress in July as well as the ruling party’s elective conference in December.

Spokesman Sizwe Pamla on Monday said that the Cosatu central executive committee‚ meeting for the first time in 2017 between Monday and Wednesday‚ will leave nothing off the table‚ including debating current political and economic developments such as the swearing in of former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe as an ANC MP.

"Everything will be on the table. Since it is the first central executive committee [of 2017]‚ we will outline programs for the year in terms of what Cosatu will be doing for the whole year‚" said Pamla.

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"We have the policy conference of the ANC‚ the SACP congress in July as well as the big conference of the ANC in December‚ so we have to have a position on all these important political events. We will also discuss the possible cabinet reshuffle but ultimately‚ we will be giving ourselves a sense of direction."

During a media briefing on Sunday‚ SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande - also Minister of Higher Education and Training in President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet and one of those said to be facing the axe - said the party would comment on a reshuffle "if and when it happens".

However‚ the party labelled Molefe’s swearing in as "ill-advised". Nzimande said the SACP was not consulted on Molefe’s appointment‚ a position shared by Cosatu.

Among the most immediate issues Cosatu is expected to deliberate on during the CEC meeting is the federation’s response to the minimum wage deal.

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The organisation pulled out of a signing ceremony earlier this month in Cape Town‚ arguing that its highest decision-making structure between conferences had not discussed the deal.

After two years of negotiation in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac)‚ parties had set the levels for the national minimum wage at R20 per hour‚ to take effect from May 1 2018.

It remains to be seen whether Cosatu will stick to its demand that workers be paid a minimum wage of R4500 or adjust its position downwards.

The decision by Cosatu not to sign the deal appears to have delayed further progress - principally the drafting of legislation to give effect to the wage deal.

- TMG Digital

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