Nov 20, 2009
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's powerful COSATU trade union federation meets next week to take stock of its relations with the ruling ANC and progress made in economic restructuring to benefit the country's poor.

COSATU, which says it has over two million members across the country, aims to convince President Jacob Zuma to change economic policies to improve the lives of millions of workers.

The meeting of top leaders of South Africa's unions comes just over a week after COSATU, Zuma's African National Congress and the South African Communist Party met to solve their differences.

Analysts expect COSATU will look at its relations with the ANC and how to leverage that relationship to bring about the changes unions want.

"There is an effort from the ANC to restate its own position and not appear to be bowing to the will of the unions. The unions are going to have to assess their strategy," said Mike Davies, Middle East and Africa analyst at Eurasia Group.

"Are they (COSATU) going to approach and attack or try and put pressure on a range of issues in order to gain certain concessions in a number of areas," Davies added.

The federation's central executive committee will meet for three days from November 23 and about 100 members of 21 unions under COSATU's umbrella will discuss political and organisational challenges.

COSATU has been pushing the ANC government to increase spending, scrap the inflation targets that guide monetary policy, cut interest rates and intervene to weaken the rand, which has gained around 20 percent against the dollar this year.