The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) reaffirms its solidarity with its affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), in defending Eskom, public ownership of the electricity grid and jobs as well as workers’ rights.

The Federation supports NUM’s decision to legally challenge the implementation of the Eskom Restructuring Task Team (ERTT) Phase I Report. South Africa’s electricity grid is a strategic national asset and must not be broken up or gradually privatised at the expense of workers, consumers and the public interest.

We cannot allow electricity to become a playground for private profit while workers and ordinary South Africans carry the costs.

Government must first address Eskom’s underlying financial and governance challenges, including municipal debt, before embarking on far-reaching structural reforms. Municipalities owe Eskom more than R120 billion. This is what must be tackled not weakening Eskom. Workers must not be made to pay for failures of governance and accountability.

No worker at Eskom should be sacrificed in the restructuring process. COSATU and NUM demand enforceable guarantees that no worker will lose their job, suffer worsening conditions or have their collective bargaining rights undermined.

Any restructuring must involve genuine and meaningful consultation with organised labour. Workers cannot be presented with decisions that have already been taken and told that consultation has occurred. Phase II of the ERTT process must fully respect collective bargaining and the principles of a Just Transition.

A Just Transition, must in turn protect jobs, strengthen Eskom, promote localisation and industrial development, ensure reliable and affordable electricity, and safeguard public ownership.

The Federation therefore supports NUM’s use of all available avenues including legal means to defend workers and the public electricity system.

This defence of Eskom is also a struggle to protect South Africa’s energy sovereignty, strategic public assets, industrial future and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

COSATU calls on government to halt any further moves towards privatisation until there has been meaningful engagement with organised labour and other relevant stakeholders.

COSATU is fully behind NUM.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za