By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says his party is in the process of establishing its own trade union to address workers’ challenges.
Malema on Sunday said the labour union would draw from the successes of the Red Berets’ labour desk.
He said despite its successes, the party is continually being taken to court by companies claiming the EFF does not have the jurisdiction to challenge worker-related issues as it is not a labour union.
“The labour desk of the EFF is doing very well. It is fighting battles day in and day out,” Malema said. “You know what they’ve resorted to now? Every time the EFF goes to intervene, they take us to court and say we’re not a union. We are fighting whether we are a union or not. As long as a black person is exploited, we are going to fight with those who exploit black people.”
Because of this, the EFF has decided to establish its own union, he said. The union will push the EFF’s policy position of insourcing workers, especially security staff and cleaners in municipalities and government departments.
He told supporters that the EFF union would not be a “Mickey Mouse union”.
“The unions in SA have taken the side of the employer, there is a vacuum on the side of the workers and nature does not allow a vacuum.
“Let the union of the EFF rise and occupy the vacuum and represent the workers of SA and the workers of the whole African continent. Because we are not only a SA organisation, we are an organisation of Africa. That’s why the EFF’s logo does not have a map of SA but that of Africa — because we are one.”
Malema complained that government was outsourcing services such as cleaning and catering to multinational companies like Bidvest, which he claimed, President Cyril Ramaphosa had a stake in.
He said instead of issuing these multimillion contracts to companies, government should hire South Africans who haven’t completed their matric.
“Why should you outsource the cutting of grass? all we need is the equipment to go around cutting grass.
“Give us those jobs, don’t give those jobs to Bidvest of Ramaphosa. Give them to us directly and employ us permanently.”
According to the EFF leader, citizens who have not completed their high school education were the victims of South Africa’s high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality.