NEDLAC HOLDS SECOND MEETING TO
CONSIDER COSATU NOTICE
A second meeting was held at Nedlac today to consider the notice
of possible protest action tabled by the Congress of South
AfricanTrade Unions regarding job losses. The protest action is
directed at Government, Business and the Reseve Bank.
The notice was served in terms of s77(1)(b) ofthe Labour
Relations Act, which gives workers the right to embark on protest
action topromote and protect their social and economic interests,
if they follow certain procedures. Nedlac is required to consider
the notice with a view to resolving the matter through a process of
facilitation.
The reasons tabled by Cosatu as motivation for the intended
protest action include several elements of policy which Cosatu
believe relate to the increasing job losses, including:
- Employers' ability to retrench workers
- The Insolvency laws
- Interest rates
- The restructuring of government owned enterprises
- The reduction of import tariffs
The Nedlac Standing Committee noted that the issues raised in
the Cosatu notice have been considered in other Nedlac structures
subsequent to the tabling of the notice on 30 July 1999. These
structures include the Jobs Summit Supervisory Structure and the
Executive Council. The Executive Council has tasked Nedlac's
Management Committee, to take forward the employment crisis issue,
including the issues raised by Cosatu, on an urgent basis.
The Standing Committee decided that a special session of the
Management Committee would be convened to discuss Cosatu's notice
and the issues raised there in. This would take place no later than
23 September 1999.