The National Union of Metalworkers of SA begins its eighth national congress in Vanderbijlpark outside Johannesburg on Monday.

The congress, which co-incides with the union's 21st anniversary, is expected to see the retirement of president Mtutuzeli Tom and the election of his successor and other office bearers.

The over 200 000 union members will be represented by at least 878 voting delegates from more than 57 local branches and nine regions.

They will discuss an agenda that includes the political situation locally and globally, the trade union movement in South Africa, collective bargaining and an organisational report.

In a pre-congress website messages, delegates are urged to move beyond leadership discussions and focus on issues directly affecting workers -like the loss of permanent jobs to labour brokers, changes to the Labour Relations Act and developing shop floor leadership.

"Parliament of Metalworkers"

The union, which represent workers hourly-paid and salaried workers in the automotive, tyre, television and cable manufacturing sectors, as well as petrol attendants and mechanics, is an affiliate of the Congress of SA Trade Unions.

Its secretary general Silumko Nondwangu recently reportedly came under fire from Cosatu for being associated with former president Thabo Mbeki's bid for a third term as ANC president, against Cosatu's official position of support for Jacob Zuma, who was eventually elected.

Former Cosatu President Willie Madisha found himself ousted from the movement and the SA Democratic Teachers' Union with the Zuma issue cited as one of his infractions.

The congress, dubbed the "Parliament of Metalworkers" continues until October 13.

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