Issued by: COSATU
07 Feb. 1996
COSATU is in the process of writing its detailed submission to the Constitutional Assembly.
We feel however that we should bring to the attention of the public and members our anger and frustration, at the manner in which the minority parties have been conducting themselves in parliament. In our view parties like the DP and NP want to hold the process and the views of the majority at ransom. They seek to extend their influence in levels far beyond levels proportionate to the support they received in the 1994 general elections. COSATU wishes to remind the DP that it represents 1% of the voters and NP 20%.
The DP and NP have focused all their attentions to clauses of the constitution that will negatively affect workers. These include the following:
1. Property clause
The NP & DP have argued that the constitution should protect the "property of citizens". Their intentions are clear - that is to protect white's privileges, accumulated by their 40 years of misrule.
COSATU remain opposed to the inclusion of property rights in the constitution.
2. Right of employers to lock-out
The DP and NP want to further shift the power balance in employer / worker relations in favour of employers.
COSATU remain vehemently opposed to this idea and is fully committed to use every inch of power it has in ensuring that the employers are not awarded this right. Employers do have a right to lock-out in the current LRA, and will enjoy the same right in the new LRA. This we can live with, nothing more.
3. Right of Trade Unions and employers to determine its own Administration Programmes and Activities
The DP is seeking to have the right diluted. They want the government to have a right to regulate and interfere with this right.
There are quite a number of these examples we can make, including the NP's insistence that the government of National Unity's life be extended beyond 1999.
COSATU support the call made by Pravin Gordhan for a referendum to be held on these and other issues if the May deadline is threatened by the irresponsible parties that represent the past.
COSATU will hold a bilateral with the ANC on these and other issues on the week of the 11 February 1995. We planning to have a bilateral with the NP towards the end of next week to discuss with them our concerns on their positions. We shall not waste our time with the DP as we believe their agenda is fundamentally anti working people.
We call on our members and the public to stand firm behind the demands of the African National Congress in the Constitutional Assembly.