Dissolving Samatu illegal, says Cosatu

Cosatu insists that the decision to dissolve the union arm of the South African Medical Association was illegal and that it should be reversed.

Johannesburg - Cosatu has once again demanded that the decision to dissolve Samatu, the union arm of the SA Medical Association (Sama), be reversed.

It told reporters on Tuesday that the move had been illegal and Samatu deputy president Dr Mpho Pooe claimed it did not have the backing of the organisation’s leaders.

“It must be noted that such a resolution was never raised by the PEC’S (provincial executive commit) or the NEC (national executive committee). No congress adopted such a resolution, therefore the people who purported to have the powers to run affairs of the trade union are primarily not members of the trade union but non-profit company,” said Pooe.

Last month Sama announced that it had done away with its union citing its struggle to establish effective structures as the reason.

Cosatu has warned that the decision may lead to the deregistration of Sama meaning that there would be no organisational rights for doctors.

Labour Bureau