The Congress of South African Trade Unions totally supports the National Union of Mineworkers' objection to the failure to consult the union over major restructuring of the Eskom board.

It is absolutely unacceptable that the Minister of Public Enterprises should unilaterally make appointments to such an important public utility, without consulting the main stakeholders, including the NUM, other trade unions within Eskom, and COSATU itself.  We call on the minister to suspend the appointments to allow for a proper process of consultation with all stakeholders.

The same principle must be applied when making appointments to the senior positions of all parastatals and other important public bodies.

The federation endorses the comment by Frans Baleni, the NUM General Secretary, that: "What we are raising is a matter of principle. We have always said that ‘nothing about us without us' will be allowed and we are drawing the line."

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, June 10 2011

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