UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

MEDIA RELEASE

COSATU MUST LEARN TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE

STATEMENT ISSUED BY NELSON RAMODIKE, MP
UDM SPOKESPERSON FOR LABOUR

The UDM expresses its concern at Cosatu's planned protest action against privatisation, including strike action against Eskom.

The UDM expresses its concern at the possibility of job losses, a decline in job creation and a lack/demise of local ownership with regards to privatisation or restructuring. Similar concerns of Cosatu are valid, but it must be understood that it is imperative for restructuring to happen. The potential gains for the consumer, the economy and the fiscus can be achieved hilst other concerns are addressed; these things are not mutually exclusive. Therefore the UDM disagrees with the planned protest action by Cosatu.

The UDM calls on the Minister to urgently address issues surrounding the National Framework Agreement. This agreement was devised for the specific purpose of avoiding confrontation on restructuring but is dismally failing to bind stakeholders to a common goal.

The UDM further calls on Cosatu to address its concerns to the appropriate forum in a reasonable and constructive manner. Continued piecemeal obstruction of sub-divisions of restructuring by Cosatu, whilst their oncern is with the overall policy, only achieves delays and negative investor sentiment. In the end, this means that the members of Cosatu will suffer more.

Mr Nelson Ramodike, MP
UDM Spokesperson for Labour

Cape Town
06 June 2001