Trade union responses to state enterprise restructuring and privatisation.

Abstract

With the advent of democracy, COSATU took a leading role in the contestation of public policy. It soon saw itself caught between the tension of cooperating with a democratic government whilst attempting to resist policies not in line with its socialist vision. The purpose of this study was to critically appraise trade union responses to state asset restructuring and privatisation. COSATU in general accepted the privatisation of non-essential enterprises and services, rejected the privatlsation of essential services like water and electricity and called for the strategic nationalisation of essential services like housing and health. They have shown an appreciation of government's arguments, but government has not taken the concern of unions into consideration. The findings reveal quite a high level of pessimism and uncertainty amongst unions with respect to the pragmatic position of COSATU and the equivocation on the part of government to allow space for the contestation of prlvatisation policy.