peaccenicked
24th July 2002, 06:20
Article from South Afrrica's I Business Report
Cosatu to strike over privatisation
Mokgadi Pela
July 23 2002 at 06:44AM
Johannesburg - Cosatu will embark on a general strike against privatisation in October.
Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu's general secretary, told a media briefing yesterday that the strike would also focus on job losses, the rising cost of living caused by high food prices and the interest rate hike.
The step would overturn the federation's unilateral suspension of its programme against privatisation, job losses and poverty. Cosatu had hoped government would "reciprocate with meaningful engagement on the restructuring of state assets''.
"Regrettably, this suspension did not solicit similar response from government and capital. Privatisation of basic services has continued
unabated.
"The bloodbath of job losses has intensified despite millions protesting against this attack on the working-class living standards since 1999. It is against this background that Cosatu decided to lift the suspension and continue its programme of mass mobilisation,'' he said.
Vavi was speaking after last week's two-day executive committee meeting of the federation.
The labour movement set aside the campaign in February this year with the hope that government would suspend its planned sale of parastatals. This however, did not happen.
Vavi said it was unacceptable that government wanted to privatise 30 percent of electricity generation and concessioning the ports to private hands.
"As indicated last year, communities are beginning to feel the effects of privatisation. The fact that Telkom has disconnected about 223 386 lines in the year to March 2000 is an example of the impact of privatisation on our people," the federation said.
Turning to the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), Vavi said: "We will observe with keen interest whether promises to involve civil society will bear fruits.
"In the meantime, we will work with our sister unions to develop a much more detailed submission that will be used as our platform of engagement with the political leadership and African Union and Nepad structures."
Cosatu to strike over privatisation
Mokgadi Pela
July 23 2002 at 06:44AM
Johannesburg - Cosatu will embark on a general strike against privatisation in October.
Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu's general secretary, told a media briefing yesterday that the strike would also focus on job losses, the rising cost of living caused by high food prices and the interest rate hike.
The step would overturn the federation's unilateral suspension of its programme against privatisation, job losses and poverty. Cosatu had hoped government would "reciprocate with meaningful engagement on the restructuring of state assets''.
"Regrettably, this suspension did not solicit similar response from government and capital. Privatisation of basic services has continued
unabated.
"The bloodbath of job losses has intensified despite millions protesting against this attack on the working-class living standards since 1999. It is against this background that Cosatu decided to lift the suspension and continue its programme of mass mobilisation,'' he said.
Vavi was speaking after last week's two-day executive committee meeting of the federation.
The labour movement set aside the campaign in February this year with the hope that government would suspend its planned sale of parastatals. This however, did not happen.
Vavi said it was unacceptable that government wanted to privatise 30 percent of electricity generation and concessioning the ports to private hands.
"As indicated last year, communities are beginning to feel the effects of privatisation. The fact that Telkom has disconnected about 223 386 lines in the year to March 2000 is an example of the impact of privatisation on our people," the federation said.
Turning to the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), Vavi said: "We will observe with keen interest whether promises to involve civil society will bear fruits.
"In the meantime, we will work with our sister unions to develop a much more detailed submission that will be used as our platform of engagement with the political leadership and African Union and Nepad structures."