‘Military trade unions are constitutional right’ says Vavi
Trade unions in the military continue to be a minefield, with Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi saying they were a “constitutional right” and threatening to take government to court. The issue could sour relations between Cosatu and its alliance partner. It also suggests the Zuma government’s patience with Cosatu is wearing thin. Last week Zuma told Cosatu’s annual conference the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) had decided to "de-unionise" the military and instead use a commission to address soldiers' grievances. But Vavi fired back on the last day of the conference that soldiers' right to unionise had been established by the Constitutional Court.
