FIRST MEETINGS TO CONSIDER COSATU NOTICES OF POSSIBLE
PROTEST ACTION - ON PRIVATISATION AND ON VARIOUS OTHER
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES
13 August 2002
Meetings were held at Nedlac yesterday to discuss the two
Section 77 notices tabled on 24 July by the Congress of South
African Trade Unions, Cosatu. The first relates to the issue of
privatisation, whilst the second relates to a number of other
socio-economic issues, including, what Cosatu describes as:
- The ongoing decline in the number of jobs in the formal
sector
- The ongoing decline in the quality of jobs, especially the
increase in casualisation
- The increasing poverty of workers and the working class in
general
- The rising cost of living, including the increase in food
prices and interest rate hikes
- The lack of adequate social security for workers, their
dependents who are unemployed and the working class in
general.
With regard to the notice on privatisation, the meeting agreed
that a bilateral meeting would be held between Cosatu and the
Department of Public Enterprises on Monday 19 August. A report-back
would then be given to the Section 77 Standing Committee on 5
September.
Regarding the notice on broader socio-economic issues, it was
agreed that Cosatu would table a more detailed document on the
issues. It agreed to do this by 16 August. Government would then
respond in writing to this document by 2 September, and a further
Section 77 meeting would be held on 5 September.
Background on Section 77 of the LRA
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.
Issued by Nedlac
Contact: Jennifer Wilson on 011 328 4211 / 083 652 8524