Meeting to discuss COSATU notice of possible protest action regarding the privatisation and planned privatisation of municipal services

Friday 28 August, 1998

A meeting was held at Nedlac today to consider the notice served by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) regarding possible protest action against the privatisation and proposed privatisation of municipal services, including the provision of water. This notice has been served by the union in terms of s77(1)(b) of the Labour Relations Act, which gives workers the right to embark on protest action to promote and protest their social and economic interests

The meeting, which included the Director-General of Constitutional Development, Zam Titus, Deputy-General Secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi, and members of the Nedlac management committee, was called in terms of Section 77.1(c) of the LRA, which requires Nedlac to consider the notice with a view to resolving the matter through a process of facilitation.

Cosatu tabled a memorandum at the meeting listing 6 core demands. A further meeting was set for 8 September in order to allow parties an opportunity to study the Cosatu memorandum. In the interim, an appeal was made to all parties to take the appropriate steps to create a climate conducive to resolving the matter.

Background

According to the notice, COSATU believes that the privatisation of municipal services will negatively affect the socio-economic interests of workers because it will make these services less affordable for and less accessible to workers and the poor. Cosatu has indicated that the intended protest action would include a one day work stoppage in Mpumalanga, and marches, pickets and demonstrations in other provinces.