COSATU+strategy+for+Jobs+and+Poverty+Campaign,+29+May+2006



=COSATU sets strategy for Jobs and Poverty Campaign=


 * //May 29, 2006//**

A meeting of the General Secretaries of COSATU today determined the future direction of the Jobs and Poverty Campaign. The General Secretaries decided:

1. COSATU and its affiliates must continue to take action because none of their core demands in this campaign have been met. We will submit a notice of dispute to NEDLAC under Section 77 of the LRA.

2. The campaign will continue to focus on the need to create more decent employment, as well as strengthening programmes to address poverty. Critical issues include:


 * Ending retrenchments and casualisation.
 * Retailers, other large companies and government at all levels must commit to expanding local procurement.
 * The government must ensure that trade negotiations at the WTO do not undermine employment creation or limit the provision of basic services by the government.
 * Government must do more to expand public works programmes as a source of employment, including in provision of social services and cultural programmes as well as infrastructure.
 * The provision of quality education and other basic services must be guaranteed to all South Africans at an affordable cost.
 * The state must end understaffing, which places an intolerable burden on public servants.

3. We will work to ensure a discussion of these demands in the Tripartite Alliance. We are particularly concerned that the industrial strategy now being developed by the government be discussed in depth in the Alliance.

4. In addition to the programme of action agreed at last week’s CEC, COSATU will intensify efforts to build a broad coalition with civil society around these demands.

5. We will also explore ways to mobilise the unemployed in support of demands for decent work.

A fuller statement will follow later in the week.


 * Patrick Craven (Editor, Shopsteward Journal)**
 * Congress of South African Trade Unions**
 * 1-5 Leyds Cnr Biccard Streets, Braamfontein, 2017**


 * P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa**


 * Tel: +27 11 339-4911/24**
 * Fax: +27 11 339-5080/6940**
 * E-Mail:** **patrick@cosatu.org.za**

331 words COSATU GS Z Vavi, farewell address to outgoing NUM GS Gwede Mantashe