Answer to Question #211673 in Political Science for pozy

Question

Membership of the largest federation of trade unions, COSATU, has declined by 400 000 over the past few years. Discuss five main reasons why you think this might be happening. (bullet points are acceptable)

Answer 1

Bad Apples

Bheki Ntshalintshali, general secretary of Cosatu, told City Press this week that the federation may yet turn the wheel and rebound. However, in order to accomplish so, its leaders require more authority to meddle in the affairs of affiliated unions. One of the resolutions on the agenda for congress is to modify the Cosatu constitution's provision on affiliate autonomy.

Too small to survive

While big unions are being ripped apart by internal conflicts, there is a growing profusion of tiny unions with little real chance of survival.

Public sector

The continuous shift toward the public sector has an influence on Cosatu's overall authority, according to Ntshalintshali.