Volume 11, No.2 - June-August 2002

COSATU Exco calls two day strike

COSATU's Executive committee (EXCO) met in its ordinary session on 17-18 July and took a number of key decisions.

Socio-Economic Protest

Over the past three months, COSATU has debated whether it should lift the suspension of its programme of mobilisation against privatisation, job losses and poverty.
The federation had unilaterally suspended its programme, including a general strike planned for the first quarter 2002, to create an environment conducive for engagement, in the alliance and in society as a whole, on the issues that gave rise to its programme of action.

COSATU had expected government to reciprocate with meaningful engagement on the restructuring of state assets. Regrettably, this suspension did not solicit a similar response from government and capital. Privatisation of basic services has continued unabated. The job loss bloodbath has intensified, despite millions protesting against this attack on working class living standards since 1999.

COSATU had informed its alliance partners that while it had decided to suspend its strike action against privatisation, government's intention to forge ahead with its plans to privatise placed COSATU in a difficult situation. Our ceasefire was untenable when government was proceeding with its privatisation plans regardless of our concerns.
The Minister of Public Enterprises outlined plans to continue with privatisation in his budget speech earlier this year. Among others, government intends to privatise 30% of electricity generation and concession the ports to private managers.

As indicated last year, communities are beginning to feel the effects of privatisation on our people. A good example is Telkom's disconnection of 223 386 lines in the year up to March 2000. This results from unaffordable local tariffs, increased by Telkom to please its strategic equity partner. The poor will suffer even more now that the Telkom exclusivity period has ended.

]We had expected that the Spoornet and Denel model would be extended to other restructuring processes. In these cases government worked closely with the unions to reach consensus. On the contrary, government is now moving unilaterally with the restructuring of state assets.
A number of COSATU affiliates proposed that the suspension be reviewed in the May EXCO. This was then referred to affiliates for further discussion. Against this background the July EXCO decided to lift the suspension and continue with its programme of mass mobilisation.

This includes a call for a general strike on 1-2 October 2002 but EXCO decided that COSATU should sustain its programme against privatisation beyond the general strike until consensus is reached.
The general strike will also be targeted towards the ongoing job losses, the rising cost of living due to high food prices and interest rate hikes. The economy continues to destroy jobs at an alarming rate and the quality of jobs is declining as more secure employment is replaced by casual and informal sector jobs.

NEDLAC will be notified of the EXCO decision, and the details of the programme will be outlined, in due course.
At the same time, COSATU will continue to pursue discussions within the alliance to find an amicable solution to the issue that prompted the socio-economic protest. The decision of COSATU does not signal a lack of confidence in the alliance to solve these problems but highlights the extent of the desperation in the working class facing an extremely difficult economic situation.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

The EXCO was given a briefing on preparations for the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in late August and early September. EXCO is
satisfied with the level of our engagement with the process and the role we have played to ensure that developmental challenges are placed firmly on the agenda of the
conference. Further, EXCO decided that:

Social Security

EXCO received an update on the Commission of Inquiry into Comprehensive Social Security, to which COSATU has made a submission. EXCO noted that this matter would be discussed soon by government and calls upon the alliance to reach consensus on this matter prior to discussions at Cabinet.

Unemployment Insurance Act

A number of affiliates raised concerns with regard to the new Unemployment Insurance Act. (See the article on Pages ) EXCO appreciate the many progressive changes that were introduced in the new legislation but expressed concerns around workers who resign not benefiting under the new Act.
The concern is that this blanket approach will penalise workers who resign due to intolerable working conditions or for other genuine reasons. While COSATU is sensitive to the Fund's financial situation, it feels that this matter should be revisited to allow workers who resign under specified circumstances to benefit from the Fund.

The limit placed on benefits was also cited as a matter of concern, in particular the fact that workers will be entitled to benefits once during the four-year cycle if they exhaust their benefits. This was seen as too restrictive. Maternity benefits are too low.
These concerns were highlighted in our submission to Department of Social Development on the Comprehensive Social Security. COSATU will seek a meeting with the Minister and Department of Labour to address these issues.

SAMWU Strike

EXCO welcomed the settlement reached between SALGA and SAMWU and saluted workers for their sacrifice and steadfastness in the face of provocation. Further, COSATU congratulate both SALGA and SAMWU for their maturity in finding an amicable solution.

The deal will improve the conditions of low-income municipal workers and other workers. COSATU condemned in the strongest terms the utter arrogances showed by SALGA negotiators throughout the dispute. The federation sent its condolences to the families of all workers who were killed during the dispute and regretted the violence that accompanied the strike.
Charges against workers, and plans to sue SAMWU, should be dropped. Such attempts criminalise legitimate social protest and do not bode well for industrial relations.

SABC

EXCO received a report from the Performing Arts Workers Equity (PAWE) on the ongoing attempts to have a genuine engagement with SABC management on their exploitation of artists.
The EXCO also made its own assessment of SABC and raised serious concerns about coverage of labour, local content and several labour relations matters. COSATU believes that the SABC is not promoting our culture, history and values adequately in its programmes. This in our view undermines the public broadcasters' mandate. Even more, SABC television programmes are generally irrelevant for non-English speakers individuals, especially in the rural areas.
COSATU has sent a letter to the SABC management calling for an engagement on these issues.
We have agreed to mobilise workers whose struggles and plight are ignored by the national broadcaster, civil society and political formations to ensure that the SABC is held accountable by the electorate.

Nepad

(See the article on pages )COSATU debated events since the last EXCO around the New Partnership for African Development (Nepad) including the conference it hosted of OATUU/ICFTU-AFRO and the engagement with the chairperson of the African Union.
COSATU will observe with keen interest whether promises to involve civil society in Nepad will bear fruit. In the meantime, COSATU will work with OATUU and ICFTU-AFRO to develop a much more detailed submission that will be used as our platform of engagement with the political leadership and AU and NEPAD structures.

Central Committee and National Congress

The COSATU Central Committee will take place on 9-11 April 2003, in Esselen Park, Kempton Park. The Central Committee will consider progress on the organisational review in the affiliates and the federation. The COSATU 8th National Congress will take place on 15-18 September 2003 at Gallagher Estate, Midrand.