COSATU TABLES NOTICE OF PROTEST ACTION ON PRIVATISATION
19 June 2001
The Congress of South African Trade Unions, Cosatu, today tabled
a notice to the National Economic Development and Labour Council,
Nedlac, of possible protest action regarding the issue of
privatisation.
In the notice, Cosatu refers to the programme the state has
embarked upon to privatise state assets, enterprises, services and
undertakings. It also refers to the restructuring of state
enterprises, undertakings and services carried out by the state and
the state's opening up of industries or sectors in order to provide
for competition. The notice states that Cosatu is not opposed to
restructuring in itself, but it argues that the state's
restructuring process forms part and parcel of the broader
privatisation programme, which it opposes.
Cosatu's notice argues that the state's privatisation programme
detrimentally affects the socio-economic interests of the poor,
which includes workers and the working class in general. It
specifies a number of demands, including that government halt all
privatisation initiatives pending the establishment of a clear
policy and legislation to guide restructuring. The notice says that
the policy must be binding on all state-owned or controlled
entities, and must be negotiated by the parties to Nedlac, and
subsequently tabled as legislation.
The notice was tabled in terms of Section 77 of the Labour
Relations Act, which allows registered trade unions or federations
of trade unions to undertake protest action to promote and protect
the social and economic interests of workers, if they follow
certain procedures. Before embarking on protest action, the trade
union concerned is required to serve notice on Nedlac stating the
reasons for the protest action and the intended nature of the
protest action. The Act requires the Nedlac parties to meet with
the trade union and the parties at whom the notice is directed, to
consider the issues raised. Should the issues remain unresolved
after thorough consideration, workers are entitled to participate
in protected protest action 14 days after serving a second notice
on Nedlac of their intention to proceed with the action.
In the notice served on Nedlac, Cosatu says that the protest
would include marches, protest rallies, demonstrations and an
initial stayaway of two days
The notice has been forwarded to Nedlac's standing committee on
Section 77 notices, which will be required to call a meeting of the
parties.
Jennifer Wilson
Communications Coordinator
Nedlac
(011) 482-2511
fax: 482 4650
082 495 1341