Nine trade unions loyal to expelled Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi have decided they will attend the trade union federation's special national congress later this month, although they are not happy with the agenda.

"We shall attend and participate in the SNC, but will do so under, and register a, strong protest at this attempt to deny the membership their right to have robust debates on the serious and unprecedented challenges facing the federation," the so-called Nine Plus Unions said on Wednesday.

The group said it will insist during the congress that delegates be allowed to discuss the National Union of Metalworkers of SA's (Numsa) expulsion from Cosatu and Vavi's dismissal, among other things.

They also want to discuss the inclusion of new metalworkers union Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) into the Cosatu fold.

The group was briefing the media on the Communication Workers Union (CWU) picket line outside MTN's offices in Fairlands, Johannesburg.

After the briefing a memorandum would be handed to MTN "demanding that they give respect to the CWU's demands". The CWU strike at MTN has been going on since May 20.

On June 9, the High Court in Johannesburg dismissed Numsa’s application to be declared an affiliate of Cosatu. This meant it could not attend the special national congress.

Numsa was expelled from Cosatu in November last year, for its decision not to support the ANC in the general elections held earlier that year, in violation of Cosatu’s constitution.

On May 11, the High Court in Pretoria ordered the trade union federation to hold the special national congress. It will take place on July 13 and 14. Numsa and other unions had brought the court application.

Cosatu is holding a ordinary congress in November where it has said Numsa and Vavi can appeal their expulsions.

The election of new leadership would also only happen at the November congress.

"The current leadership is insisting that Numsa and the GS cannot appeal to the SNC, but can only do so at the next ordinary congress' for which no date has been finalised or notice issued," the unions said.

"This is a blatant disregard of the Cosatu constitution and we will insist that the appeals of both the GS and Numsa should be heard at the SNC."

The 9 unions are the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu), the SA Catering Commercial and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu), the Public and Allied Workers Union of SA (Pawusa), the South African State and Allied Workers Union (Sasawu), CWU, the SA Football Players Union (Safpu), Numsa, the Democratic Nursing Union (Denosa) and the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).

News24.com