Addressing delegates at Numsa's NBC, Numsa President, Mtutuzeli Tom, called on what he termed "mushrooming movements to work with the unions and not against them".
In an apparent reference to the Treatment Action Campaign's (TAC's) call for civil disobedience, the union President distanced his organisation from such action and told delegates that "other avenues" were available to put pressure on pharmaceutical companies that controlled the manufacture, supply and distribution of anti-retroviral drugs.
TAC on the other hand has embarked on a programme of civil disobedience in an attempt to pressure government to make anti-retroviral drugs 'freely' available for HIV/AIDS patients at all state hospitals. President Tom highlighted some of the options that could be pursued by labour when he said that trade unions like Ceppawu were better placed to negotiate with the drug cartels.
"It is for this reason that the trade unions are unable to associate with decisions taken by some of these movements", said the President. As the showdown between the TAC and Government intensifies, the AIDS pandemic continues to grip South Africa with disastrous consequences.
For now it appears that neither party is going to give in, as alliances are sought to defend opposing positions?
Source
Numsa News