National
Vavi says he does not owe Numsa─── 09:12 Wed, 23 Apr 2014
Pretoria - Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has indicated that he does not owe Numsa for its support to have him reinstated at the trade union federation, The Star newspaper reported on Wednesday.
"It is wrong to say the resolution of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) must bind Vavi... and Numsa is not [so] arrogant to tell me I must abandon Cosatu," he was quoted as saying.
"It does not work like that."
Vavi addressed about 500 shop stewards at the Western Cape Congress of SA Trade Union office in Cape Town on Tuesday, the newspaper reported.
He returned to work at Cosatu House this month after eight months of being on suspension, following the High Court in Johannesburg's ruling setting aside his suspension.
The federation is backing the ANC in the upcoming general elections. Numsa -- which supported Vavi and called for his reinstatement -- has decided not to endorse the ruling party.
Vavi pledged to work for unity within Cosatu.
"My role is to ensure we pick up the pieces... that have fallen all over," Vavi was quoted as saying.
"Without the unity of workers, everything else becomes impossible. Without the numbers united behind a principled federation, all is lost."
Sapa
